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
West Ham 1957
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for West Ham]
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The following table shows the numbers of contacts given B.C.G. vaccination during the past five years:-
| Age | 1953 | 1954 | 1955 | 1956 | 1957 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0-1 | 59 | 70 | 51 | 49 | 35 |
| 1-2 | 5 | 12 | 12 | 17 | 16 |
| 2-3 | 9 | 13 | 11 | 10 | 13 |
| 3-4 | 17 | 13 | 9 | 7 | 4 |
| 4-5 | 10 | 16 | 4 | 9 | 10 |
| Over 5 | 73 | 111 | 45 | 59 | 78 |
| Total | 173 | 235 | 132 | 151 | 156 |
In addition, 6 nurses and 1 laboratory technician employed at hospitals in the
Borough were given B.C.G. vaccination.
Special clinic sessions are held for contact cases and during the past year 529
contacts were examined as a result of 111 new cases, giving an average number of 4.76
contacts per notified case.
The figures for this work in relation to those of previous years are:-
| Year | New contacts examined | New notified cases on Clinic Register | Average number of contacts examined per notified case |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 421 | 186 | 2.26 |
| 1951 | 643 | 196 | 3.28 |
| 1952 | 794 | 202 | 3.93 |
| 1953 | 916 | 226 | 4.05 |
| 1954 | 996 | 194 | 5.13 |
| 1955 | 605 | 157 | 3.85 |
| 1956 | 581 | 132 | 4.40 |
| 1957 | 529 | 111 | 4.76 |
The scheme for the ascertainment of tuberculosis cases by tuberculin testing of
toddlers was continued in the year under review and no active case was found.
B.C.G. Scheme 1955.
Epidemiological investigations of schools etc., in which tuberculosis cases had
occurred were carried out in association with the Local Authority as required. The
Medical Officer of Health is specially informed of any case of tuberculosis arising in
a school child.
Deaths from tuberculosis of persons not previously known to the Clinic are
followed up and steps taken to obtain the contacts, as far as practicable.
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