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*One removed from district—information on progress not obtainable
It will be seen from these figures that of 55 cases of paralytic poliomyelitis occurring
during these ten years, 38 recovered completely, regaining full power of every muscle
affected.
The scheme for vaccination against poliomyelitis inaugurated by Middlesex County
Council in 1956 was extended in 1958, the age range was lengthened and plans made for a
third dose to be given to those already immunised with two injections. During 1958, 5,631
children received two injections, and that, added to the previous figure of 1,656 receiving
two injections in the two previous years, made a total of 7,287 considered to have satisfactory
protection. In addition 174 persons aged 15-25, 219 expectant mothers, 15 from general
practitioners' families, 9 ambulance officers and 6 hospital staff received two injections.
The third injection was given to 2,389 persons of whom 2,357 were children of 15 or under.
As the numbers of cases of poliomyelitis in this Borough have been very small for a number
of years it is not likely that any conclusions as to the efficacy of the vaccination will be available
for a long time.
Influenza
Influenza was not a serious problem during 1958. The outbreak at the end of 1957
carried over into the first months of the year, but it had become greatly reduced and no
Virus A influenza was traced within the Borough.
In December, there seemed to be some indications that influenza was coming again into
the Borough, but there had been little effect on school attendances or hospital admissions
by the end of the year.
Head Teachers were warned to exclude school children even on very mild symptoms so
that, if influenza was to come into the Borough, it should be limited as much as possible
from the earliest days.
Dysentery
Forty notifications of dysentery were received in 1958. Of these, 14 were confirmed as
caused by Shigella Sonnei, one as amoebic dysentery. In addition, five cases notified as
suspected food poisoning and two notified as gastro-enteritis were subsequently confirmed as
Sonne Dysentery; dysentery was not confirmed in the other cases. The amoebic dysentery
occurred in an Indian immigrant and contacts were found to be clear of the disease. Of the
other confirmed cases, in six instances two members of one family were affected and in one
instance three members, but the infection was contained in each case, so no outbreak resulted.
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