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
Richmond upon Thames 1970
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Richmond upon Thames]
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INFECTIOUS DISEASES
The number of notifications received during the year, compared with 1969 may be summarised as follows:
| Disease. | 1970 | 1969 |
|---|---|---|
| Dysentery | 4 | 34 |
| Encephalitis (Acute) | 1 | 1 |
| Food Poisoning | 11 | 22 |
| Infective Jaundice | 37 | 34 |
| Malaria | 7 | 2 |
| Measles | 380 | 262 |
| Meningitis (Acute) | 4 | 7 |
| Ophthalmia Neonatorum | — | — |
| Scarlet Fever | 48 | 59 |
| Whooping Cough | 17 | 12 |
The table on page 17 gives the number of cases notified under age groups.
Scarlet Fever.
The incidence of this disease is still ranking second to measles in number of
notified cases. During the year 48 cases were notified, a slight reduction on the 1969
figures. Nearly half the cases were in the 5-9 age group with both sexes being equally
susceptible.
Whooping Cough.
Of the seventeen cases notified, two are recorded as having been immunised.
Measles.
There was a sharp rise in the number of cases due to a minor epidemic during the
spring and summer months, which was attributed to a temporary shortage of vaccine.
The summer outbreak prompted many parents to have their children vaccinated
and demand for vaccine remained high.
Only eight of the notified cases were recorded as having been immunised.
The histogram on page 14 shows the comparison of notified cases since 1959.
Previous years figures are as follows:
| 1959 | 1957 | 1965 | 1992 |
| 1960 | 57 | 1966 | 888 |
| 1961 | 2422 | 1967 | 1400 |
| 1962 | 112 | 1968 | 262 |
| 1963 | 1885 | 1969 | 262 |
| 1964 | 234 | 1970 | 380 |