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1967 Eight of these cases were under the age
of one year and three of these were aged 2
months and one was aged 3 months
Vaccination records show that 36 of the
fifty-four notified cases under the age of six
years had been immunised in infancy
Measles
This was the non- epidemic year for measles
and 466 cases were notified compared with
1 535 cases in 1967 and 893 cases in 1966
AIthough measles is now very rarely
lethal in Britain it remains a distressing
infection with potentially serious complications
in about 7% of patients The introduction
of vaccination against measles in May
should be of real benefit to children and it
is hoped that the disease can be eradicated
F urther reference to measles vaccination
is made in the section on vaccination and
immunisation (see page 22 )
Dysentery
There were 109 cases compared with 16 cases
in 1967 and of these 100 were notified during
the first quarter There was only one outbreak
of any significance and this occurred at a
primary school where 53 cases occurred
amongst pupils and 38 amongst their family
contacts
Food poisoning
Although 54 cases of suspected food poisoning
were notified, after full investigation only
twelve cases were confirmed The causative
organisms were as follows:salmonella
typhlmurium (2), salmonella
bredeney (1) salmonella drypool (3),
salmonella enteritidis (4) and salmonella
montevideo (2)
One other salmonella infection (not foodborne)
was also identified
Of the 41 remaining cases notified (26
sporadic and 15 cases in 4 families) all
laboratory investigations proved negative
Enteric fevers
Typhoid fever
There was one case and the patient contracted
the infection abroad
2.0
Paratyphoid fever
A case of paratyphoid B phage-type Battersea
occurred in a neighbouring borough The source
of infection was said to be a terrapin which had
been bought some two years previously Information
was received that a family resident in this
3orough were contacts and on investigation it
was found that two members of this family were
also excreting paratyphoid 3 phage-type Battersea
They were sympton-free at the time but there was
a history of mild diarrhœa and vomitting for a few
days some two months previously This family also
kept two terrapins which they had purchased six
months previously from an unidentified trader in a
street market These two terrapins were frequently
taken to the household of the relatives in the
neighbouring borough and it was probable that they
introduced the infection
Unfortunately it was not possible to carry out
any tests on the local terrapins as one had died
and the other had been destroyed immediately
suspicion was aroused
All local pet shops were visited and samples
of aquarium water containing terrapin faeces
examined, but all proved negative
Infective Jaundice
This disease became notifiable from 15th June
1968 and 29 cases were notified.
This department is undertaking a joint study
of virus hepatitis with consultant physicians at
the West Middlesex Hospital, the physician to
the Infectious Diseases Unit at South Middlesex
Hospital and with the co-operation of the family
doctors
Patients are given a clinical examination and
vene-puncture during the early stage of their
illness The changes in the immuno globulin
fractions of the serum proteins are studied to
assist with the early diagnosis and prognosis of
the disease
The patient and his family are warned of the
dangers of this condition in connection with
blood donation If the patient or his immediate
household contacts are blood donors the National
Blood Transfusion Service are notified so that
the patient s name can be deleted from their
panels and call-up of close contacts deferred
Medical Arrangements for Long-Stay Immigrants
Long-stay immigrants are asked to give their