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 1959
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Brentford and Chiswick]
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Smallpox
During the year no cases of smallpox occurred in the Borough, nor were
there any contacts of confirmed cases. Notification of smallpox contacts is
always received from Port or Airport authorities as soon as, or before they
enter the district.
Vaccination against Smallpox
The following information regarding vaccination against smallpox carried out in the Borough during 1959 has been supplied by the Area Medical Officer.
| Number of persons who during the year were:- | Age groups | Total | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under 1 | l | 2-4 | 5-14 | 15 & over | ||
| 465 | 22 | 11 | 10 | 17 | 525 | |
| - | - | 1 | 11 | 74 | 86 | |
| 465 | 22 | 12 | 21 | 91 | 611 | |
Total number of first vaccinations:-
1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959
298 373 548 487 438 418 430 531 525
There was a slight drop in the total number of first vaccinations during
1959, and the really important figure, i.e. first vaccinations of infants under
one year old, remained at the same level as last year. Taking the figure of
the number of infants born during the year as a basis, the percentage vaccinated
in the first year of life was 57.3 in 1959. This compares with 57.3% in 1958,
42.3% in 1957, 43.7% in 1956, 47.5% in 1955, 50% in 1954 and 55% in 1953.
Scarlet Fever
There was a further considerable rise in the number of cases of scarlet
fever notified and confirmed as such, the figures being 91 in 1959 as compared
with 44 in 1958 and 24 in 1957. 21 of these cases were admitted to hospital.
This disease, which was being regarded by many as practically eliminated,
seems again to be on the increase and is by no means to be considered as free
from danger, since virulence increases with the passage from one stricken case
to another, and there is no immunisation procedure that is effective. Also the
over use of penicillin and the anti-bacterial fungi may be creating bacterial
resistance in streptococci as has been the case with the anti-tuberculous drugs.
Scarlet Fever still merits great watchfulness and good isolation of contacts.
In five instances a second case occurred in the household in which a previous
case had been notified.
Of the school children affected, the majority were scattered throughout
the Borough and also throughout the year, but three schools, one in Brentford
and two in Chiswick, had a relatively high proportion of the cases. There was
however, no concentration either in time or in classes to indicate the need for
large scale carrier investigation.
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