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8
Diphtheria
No cases occurred in the district during the year and as
before immunisation against the disease was available at the
Middlesex County Council Clinics in the area. This, together
with the facilities available through the General Practitioners,
served to keep the number of protected children at a high
level. Immunisation in infancy is not enough and parents
should ensure that their children receive their re-inforcing
innoculations on entry to school at the age of five years and
again between ten and eleven years.
Whooping Cough
Fifty-eight cases were notified during the year and of
these, five were admitted to hospital.
All children should be protected against this disease
and immunisation with the new Triple Vaccine giving
protection against Diphtheria and Tetanus at the same time
should be a "must" in every baby's welfare programme
today.
Acute Poliomyelitis
No cases occurred during the year. Response to the
immunisation campaign against this disease has been good
especially in children but one would like to see all the
children protected. It is regrettable that some people will
only think about having protective innoculations when a
case actually occurs in their neighbourhood. This could be
too late !
Three injections are required at present with the possibility
of a fourth at a later date. Unfortunately some people,
especially in the teenaged group, have defaulted before
completing their primary course and are thus still vulnerable.
This is a difficult problem to solve as nowadays teenagers
would appear to be a law unto themselves, eager to have their
own way and at the same time paying scant attention to
parental wishes.
Food Poisoning
Notifications of cases of food poisoning were down
compared with 1959 and it is hoped that this improvement
will be maintained.
Dysentery
Fourty-four cases of dysentery occurred during the year
being a slight increase as compared with the previous year.
As I have commented before, control of this disease lies