London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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West Ham 1949

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for West Ham]

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The number of deaths from all forms was 95, giving a rate per 1,000 of the population
of 0.55 - pulmonary (85 deaths) 0.49, and other forms (10 deaths) 0.06« The rates for England
and Wales, and 126 County Borough and Great Towns, for all forms of tuberculosis were respectively
0.4-5 and 0.52.
SMALLPOX. No case of smallpox was notified during the year.
Vaccination. The year 1949 was the first complete year of non-compulsory vaccination.
As was to be expected the number of young children vaccinated fell considerably. Protection
is offered in the Child Welfare Clinics on the same voluntary basis as immunisation against
diphtheria* The response, although disappointing, was an improvement on the last six months
of 19480

Number of persons vaccinated (or re-vaccinated).

Age at 31.12.49Under 11-45-1415 or overTotal
year of birth19491945/481935/44before 1935
Number vaccinated205214720446
Number re-vaccinated-473950

SCARLET FEVER. During the year 437 cases of scarlet fever were notified, this being a
decrease on the previous year (483). The case rate per 1,000 total population was 2.51. There
were no deaths from this disease in West Ham0
DIPHTHERIA,, It is pleasing to report that there were only 4 cases of this disease during
the year as compared with 4l cases in 1948$ the case rate was 0.02 per 1,000 of the total
population,, This remarkably low figure (the lowest on record) was, however, marred by the fact
that one of the patients, an un~immunised child aged 3 years, died,
Immunisation. Arrangements for immunisation consisted essentially of regular weekly
sessions in each of the Council's Maternity and Child Welfare Clinics, together with periodical
visits to the schools to immunise those children who had been missed in pre=school age, and to
give refresher doses to those who had been previously immunised. In addition, arrangements are
in force with general practitioners in the area to carry out this work on behalf of the Local
Authority.

The following figures show the number of children immunised during the years-

Completed Full CourseRefresher Doses
(a) Under 5 years2,061 )2,212
(b) 5 - 14 years853 )
Total2,914

MEASLES. The number of cases of measles notified during the year was 1,964 - 1,010 in
males and 954 in females. This compares with 1,712 cases notified during the previous year.
The case rate per 1,000 of the total population was 11.31. There were 2 deaths. This is the
fifth year in succession in which the Borough has experienced on epidemic of measles.
WHOOPING COUGH. During 1949 there were 540 cases of this disease - males 252 and
females 2880 The case rate was 3.17 per 1,000 of the population. There were 4 deaths from
this disease, all of which were of children under 1 .year of age„