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Section F—PREVENTION AND CONTROL OF
INFECTIOUS AND OTHER DISEASES
Diphtheria.
For the second year in succession I am glad to be able to report
that no cases of Diphtheria occurred in the Borough. I feel that
this is due in no small measure to the increasing number of children
who have been immunised during the year, details of which are
given below.
It is estimated that about 80% of Chingford children are now
fully immunised, but there is still room for improvement and so I
would urge parents to make full use of the facilities available for
this purpose. Children should be immunised a/t nine months of
age or as soon as possible thereafter and should receive reinforcing
immunisation at ages 5, 8 and 11 years. Facilities exist at all
County Council Clinics in the Borough and, in addition, arrangements
are made for schoolchildren to be immunised at school.
The prophylactics used are Diphtheria Alum Precipitated
Toxoid and Toxoid Antitoxin Floccules.
Diphtheria Immunisation.
Number of children immunised during the year:—
Under 5 years 742
Between 5 and 15 years 126
Total 868
Number receiving secondary or reinforcing
injections during the year 449
These figures are an increase of 77% over those for 1946, a
very creditable response on the part of parents to the immunisation
campaign in the Borough.
Scarlet Fever.
The number of Scarlet Fever notifications was 69, a reduction
of 5 on the previous year. All were of the mild type of fever that
has been prevalent in recent years. There was again a decrease
on the number admitted to hospital.
1943 1944 1945 1946 1947
Cases notified 376 82 62 74 69
Percentage removed to hospital 12 64 77 64 61
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