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although the districts of this Ministry do not correspond with Borough boundaries, the
information enabled us to assess, in a general way, the rise and fall in the amount of sickness
compared with the corresponding periods the previous year. The epidemic quickly died
down and no special health measures had to be brought into operation to limit the spread.
There were 6 deaths in January directly attributable to influenza or its complications.
Smallpox (Variola)
No patients with smallpox, but 7 contacts of cases of smallpox were notified to the
Department from the Port Authorities during the year. The contacts were kept under
supervision for the requisite period, but no illness developed.
During the year a medical practitioner asked for advice in a case of a child showing
symptoms suggesting smallpox. The visit of a Consultant Specialist from the Ministry of
Health was arranged. Smallpox was not confirmed.
Vaccination Against Smallpox
It is a matter of some concern that since the abolition of compulsory vaccination on
the coming into operation of the National Health Service Act in 1948, the number of vaccinations
being carried out is falling considerably, and to a greater extent every year.
There are various reasons given why infants are not brought forward for vaccination,
i.e. that smallpox does not occur in this country now; parents do not like the child to be hurt;
fear of harmful effects following vaccination; and in many cases just carelessness or laziness
prevents the protection from being obtained.
Although smallpox has not affected this country to any great extent for very many years,
the risk of its introduction from countries where the disease is widespread is ever with us,
and in spite of rigorous control at sea ports and air ports a case sometimes gets through with
distressing results in an unvaccinated population. This has happened once or twice in
recent years, and when it does occur there is no hesitation on the part of the public to take
advantage of vaccination facilities offered to them.

It will be seen that although over 700 children were born during the year 1951, only
250 were vaccinated, or only about a third of the children born, whereas in 1947, the last
year before the National Health Service Act came into operation, the percentage of successful
vaccinations in the first year of life to the number of children born was 44%.
Scarlet Fever (Scarlatina)
The number of notifications received during the year was 87 as compared with 89 for
the previous year.
Diphtheria
No cases of diphtheria were notified to the Health Department.
Information concerning immunisation against diphtheria was supplied by the County
Medical Officer.
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