London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Chingford 1961
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Chingford]
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10.
SECTION C
PREVENTION AND CONTROL OF INFECTIOUS AND OTHER DISEASES
Diphtheria
There were no cases of diphtheria during the year. The last case occurred
in 1950.
Primary and secondary immunisation against this disease was carried out
to the following extent in children under 15 years of age:-
Primary immunisations - under 5 years - 567
" „ - 5 to 15 years - 53
Total - 620
Number receiving secondary or
reinforcing injections - 451
Scarlet Fever
Scarlet Fever was again of a mild character. There were not more than
30 cases. It is very rare for scarlet fever patients to require hospital
treatment at the present day, and none of the 30 cases mentioned above needed
admission to hospital.
The following table indicates the cases notified during the past five years and the percentage of cases removed to hospital:-
| 1957 | 1958 | 1959 | 1960 | 1961 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Confirmed cases | 54 | 37 | 78 | 138 | 30 |
| Percentage removed to hospital | 9 | nil | 5 | 3 | nil |
Measles
This was by far the most prevalent of the infectious illnesses, with
1,101 notifications. Six of them were admitted to hospital.
Measles serum was available to medical practitioners on application
to the Public Health Laboratory, Colindale, for the treatment of cases and
protection of contacts.
Whooping Cough
Notifications totalled 26 during the year.
The number of children receiving a full course of immunisation against
this condition in 1961 was 230.