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PREVALENCE OF, AND CONTROL OVER, INFECTIOUS
AND OTHER DISEASES
During 1953, the only new legislation with regard to infectious disease was the issue
of the Public Health (Infectious Diseases) Regulations, 1953. The purpose of these
Regulations was to amplify the precautionary measures to be taken in cases of typhoid
fever, paratyphoid fever, other salmonella infections, dysentery and staphylococcal infection
likely to cause food poisoning; to give increased power with respect to persons who are
carriers of these diseases as well as to persons suffering from them; to prevent the entry
into employment involving the handling of food of such carriers, and to empower the
Medical Officer of Health to issue emergency notices when a risk of the spread of these
diseases seems likely.
The total number of infectious disease notifications received during the year was higher
than in 1952, being 1,836 compared with 844 the previous year. This year's figure is
practically identical with that for 1951—the main part of the increase being due to measles
and whooping cough in both years.
An increase in the number of notifications from scarlet fever was observed for the second
year in succession. Infection was not severe but secondary cases occurred in 10 instances
where children were nursed at home, and in each of 3 homes 2 cases of secondary infection
occurred. It seems reasonable to consider that some of the secondary infection might
not have occurred if hospital isolation had immediately been available for the primary cases.
Notifications of puerperal pyrexia were 7, as compared with 7 in 1952.
Particulars with regard to measles and poliomyelitis are mentioned specially under
separate headings.
Monthly Bulletins of Incidence of Infectious Disease
These bulletins were circulated monthly to all general practitioners in the Borough,
and, in addition to information with regard to infectious diseases occurring during the
previous month, any topical matter, or incident of mutual interest to general practitioners
and the Public Health Service, was also included; for instance, Home Accidents statistics,
Old People's Welfare information, advance notice and request for assistance with Mass
X-Ray Unit visit, etc.

Poliomyelitis
Six notifications were received of acute anterior poliomyelitis; of these 4 were
subsequently confirmed as poliomyelitis, 2 paralytic and 2 non-paralytic. 2 deaths occurred
from this disease, 1 of a notified paralytic case and 1 of a notified non-paralytic case.
Particulars of the paralytic cases notified in 1953 and of those notified during the past 5 years
and known to be still showing paralysis in 1952 are as follows:—
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