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52
The time spent in the shelters did not noticeably alter the
incidence of infection except in two cases, where measles and
mumps were respectively introduced into two nursery shelters and
the spread was apparently due to the close proximity of the children.
Fatigue was evident during the flying bomb raids, and the
nurseries served a useful purpose by providing facilities for rest
for the children who had spent disturbed nights at home.
Where cases of diarrhoea have occurred (22 cases among the
nursery population of 380 children), they were mild, and in no
instance was a child absent with this complaint for more than two
weeks; in most cases the duration was two or three days. There
was only one case of Sonne dysentery found. At the Residential
Nursery there was an outbreak of mild diarrhoea in August, when
practically all the children were affected. The advice of the
E.M.S. Pathology Service was obtained. No infective organisms
were found, although the possible sources of infection were
explored-
The following figures show the incidence of infectious disease
among the children attending the nine nurseries during the year.
The number of places remained at 380 throughout the year, and
the total number of daily attendances was 68,755:—
Dysentery (Sonne)—1 case.
(No diarrhoea at this nursery.)
Mild Diarrhoea or Gastro-enteritis—22 cases.
1 nursery had 9 oases: 1 in January, March, May, June,
3 in August and September.
1 nursery had 9 cases : 2 in February, 4 in March, 2 in
May, and 1 in December.
1 nursery had 2 cases.
2 nurseries had 1 case each.
1 nursery (residential) had 3 cases in April and May and
all children in August.
Measles—45 cases (epidemics in three nurseries).
1 nursery, July and August, 20 cases.
1 nursery, May, 15 oases.
1 nursery, March, 10 cases.