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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
Hillingdon 1968
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Hillingdon]
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Statistics, Infectious Diseases, Health Control Unit London (Heathrow) Airport
problem throughout the country, and periodic outbreaks continue to occur, particularly in schools
and institutions. The early stages of an outbreak are difficult to detect, and can only be diagnosed
in retrospect. The first line of defence, as in all intestinal infections, is the washing of hands before
meals and after using the toilet. This, of course, is an aspect of health education which should
constantly be borne in mind by all members of the public.
The following Table shows the incidence of infectious diseases during 1968.
The following Table shows the incidence of infectious diseases during 1968.
| DISEASES | Ages of Cases Notified | Totals | Deaths | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under One Year | 1 to 2 | 3 to 4 | 5 to 9 | 10 to 14 | 15 to 24 | 25 and Over | 1968 | 1967 | 1968 | 1967 | |
| Scarlet Fever | 15 | 29 | 64 | 11 | 4 | 4 | 137 | - | - | ||
| Diphtheria | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | - | — |
| Whooping Cough | 12 | 22 | 37 | 44 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 123 | 107 | — | |
| Measles | 17 | 122 | 136 | 183 | 6 | 6 | 1 | 471 | 3,481 | — | |
| Meningococcal Infection | — | 1 | — | 1 | — | — | 1 | 3 | — | - | — |
| Poliomyelitis (Paralytic) | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Poliomyelitis (Non-Paralytic) | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Acute Encephalitis (Infective) | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | — | 1 | 4 | 1 | - | — |
| Acute Encephalitis (Post Infective) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | - | — |
| Smallpox | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | - | — |
| Pneumonia | — | — | — | — | — | — | 26 | 26 | 23 | 154 | 134 |
| Typhoid | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | — | — |
| Paratyphoid | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — |
| Dysentery | 9 | 21 | 29 | 78 | 18 | 13 | 60 | 228 | 61 | 1 | — |
| Food poisoning | 1 | 4 | 8 | 13 | 4 | 1 | 80 | 111 | 290 | — | — |
| Puerperal Pyrexia | — | — | — | — | — | 28 | 55 | 83 | 144 | — | — |
| Tuberculosis, Respiratory | 1 | 2 | — | 1 | 4 | 8 | 32 | 48 | 51 | 3 | 4 |
| Tuberculosis, Other | - | - | - | - | - | 1 | 13 | 14 | 18 | 1 | 1 |
| Erysipelas | — | — | — | — | — | — | 8 | 8 | 10 | — | — |
| Infective Jaundice | - | — | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 9 | 17 | - | — | — |
Health Control Unit, London (Heathrow) Airport
During 1968 alterations and enlargement of passenger buildings resulted in a feeling of insecurity
on the part of the personnel of the Health Control Unit because their future final location and
accommodation was indefinite.
The passenger flow in and out of Heathrow in 1968 was 13,264,787. Five years ago the figure
was 8,180,000. Now, the Boeing 747's are due to come into service during 1970, Pan American World
Airways, Trans World Airlines and British Overseas Airways Corporation will each have these large
aircraft in operation on the North Atlantic route.
Staff
The medical establishment was raised from 7 to 9 during the year, largely because of the amendments
to the Commonwealth Immigrants Act, whereby all wives, children and dependants of voucher
holders were required to be examined.
With effect from 1st January, 1969, the nursing staff will cease to be on the establishment of the
Borough of Hillingdon, and instead will be absorbed by the British Airports Authority.
Port Health
Vaccinations against smallpox which were done at Heathrow in 1968 totalled 10,293. This
compares with 9,158 in 1967 and 7,140 in 1966.
The number of arriving passengers, who required to be isolated, because they had come from
infected local areas, was 46, compared with 20 in the previous year. The majority were those who had