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30.
SECTION F.
PREVENTION AND CONTROL OF INFECTIOUS AND OTHER DISEASES
Diphtheria
No cases of diphtheria occurred in the Borough during 1952.
The facilities for immunisation against diphtheria are detailed
on page 7. In addition, arrangements are made for school
children to be immunised at school.
The numbers of children immunised during the year weres-
Primary immunisations -under 5 years 466
11 " -5 to 15 years 42
Total 500
Number of children receiving secondary
or reinforcing injections 223
Scarlet Fever.
A considerable rise in the incidence of scarlet fever occurred
during 1952, there being a total of 101 cases. The numbers of cases
and the percentages removed to hospital during the previous five year3
are as follows:
1940 1949 1950 1951 1952
Cases notified 70 105 62 01 101
Percentage removed to
hospital 52 46 65 40 47
Measles
For the second year in succession, measles was very prevalent
in the borough. There were 893 notified cases. Of this number 15 were
admitted to hospital.
As in former years, measles serum was available to general
practitioners on application to the Public Health Laboratory at Colindale
for the treatment of cases and the protection of contacts.
Whooping Cough
A very sharp reduction in the incidence of whooping cough occurred
during the year, the cases falling from 463 in 1951 to 66 in 1952. No
cases were admitted to hospital.
Acute Poliomyelitis
All the four cases of poliomyelitis notified to the Health
Department were young children. Two of these have made a complete recovery
the remaining two have some degree of residual paralysis affecting the
lower limbs.