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
Brentford and Chiswick 1958
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Brentford and Chiswick]
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In three instances a second case occurred in the household in which a previous
case had been notified, and in one family three cases occurred.
In November, two schools were visited because of a rise in the numbers of
notified cases of scarlet fever. Almost all the classes in each school were
involved either directly or through sibling contacts, and throat and nose swabs
were taken from 30 children in one school and 69 in the other. In the former
case no bacterial positives were found, in the second, 10 were slightly infected
with haemolytic streptococci and had treatment, but the occurrence of new cases
stopped after the survey in both instances.
Diphtheria
No cases of diphtheria occurred during the year. The last confirmed case
of diphtheria in the Borough occurred in 1948.
Information concerning immunisation against diphtheria in the Borough during
1958 has been supplied by the Area Medical Officer, and is as follows:-
| Number of children who | Age | Total | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under 1 | l | 2-4 | 5-14 | ||
| 349 | 135 | 32 | 3 | 519 | |
| - | - | 7 | 24 | 31 | |
Number of children at 31.12.58 who had completed a course of diphtheria immunisation
at any time before that date (i.e. at any time since 1.1.44).
| Age at 31.12,58 i.e. born in year | Under 1 | 1-4 | 5-9 | 10-14 | Total under 15 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1958 | 1957-54 | 1953-49 | 1948-44 | ||
| 136 | 1,756 | 2,349 | 1,903 | 6,144 | |
| - | - | 621 | 1,515 | 2, 136 |
It is satisfactory to note that in 1958 there was a rise, in the number of
children receiving immunisation against diphtheria, and particularly that a
higher proportion of infants under 2 years were immunised. The general immunisation
state of the infant and school child community does not yet, however,
show an increase and is again below the margin for safety which has been considered
to be not less than 75% immune - the present figure is roughly 72%.
Whooping Cough
7 cases of whooping cough occurred in 1958. No deaths occurred from this
disease.
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