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There has been no great increase in the number of primary
immunisations against diphtheria - the total for 1953 being 671
as compared with 630 in 1952 - but the general level-is satisfactory
as it amounts to roughly 79% of the children born during
the year0
Whooping Cough
The figures for this disease, which has been a notifiable
Infectious Disease since October, 1939, show the highest number
of cases ever notified in the Borough in one year0 In both 1952
and 1953 one death occurred from this cause,, It has been recognised
in recent years that Whooping Cough is becoming a more
serious danger to health than formerly and in 1951 arrangements
were made by the Middlesex County Council for immunisation
against Whooping Cough to be carried out in County Clinics, hoping
thereby to reduce the incidence of the disease in a few years.
During 1953, 502 children were immunised against Whooping Cough
for details see table on previous page.
Dysentery and Food Poisoning0
There was no serious outbreak of dysentery or food poisoning
during the yearQ Twenty-three cases of gastro-intestinal disturbance
were notified to the Department as food poisoning0 Of these fourteen
were instances where single cases only occurred, in three cases
two people were ill, and in one case three persons in the same
family were ill. In the latter case, considerable investigations
were made as to the source of infection, but with negative results,
Malaria
This was a case of benign tertian malaria contracted by a Service
man in Korea The case was under full control by the time the patient
returned to this country and no spread of the infection was possible.