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17
Section F. PREVALENCE OF, AND CONTROL OVER,
INFECTIOUS AND OTHER DISEASES.
The only noteworthy epidemiological features of the year were
the outbreaks of measles and whooping cough, the former extending
over from the previous year and the latter during the spring and
summer. Copies of the notification of these diseases were sent to the
County Council Health visitors for the cases to be followed up and
unsatisfactory home conditions brought to light. Fortunately both
diseases were comparatively mild in type and caused only one death.
Seventeen cases of measles and seven of whooping cough were
removed to Isolation Hospital.
Diphtheria Immunisation.
Propaganda.—The campaign of immunisation was widely
advertised throughout the district by means of posters and leaflets and
by the M. of I. film which was shown in Loughton, Buckhurst Hill
and Chigwell.
Clinics.—An immunisation clinic was held once a month at each
of the Child Welfare Centres in the district, and in addition all the
schools were visited at least once during the year.
The response to the campaign must be regarded as only moderately
successful, but it is difficult to convince the British parent of the
advantages of prophylactic inoculation unless the danger of an epidemic
is obvious and imminent. It is, however, becoming the exception
rather than the rule for mothers attending the Child Welfare Centres
not to have the children protected, and the bulk of the unimmunised
-children are probably to be found amongst the older school children.
With patience and persistence therefore it should be possible to
build up a high level of immunity amongst the school entrants. The
general practitioners' scheme continued to operate, and the total
numbers of children immunised at clinics and by their own doctors
are given below.