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

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Mitcham 1943

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Mitcham]

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36
Small Pox
No case of small pox was notified during the year 1943.
Scarlet Fever
The number of cases of scarlet fever notified during the year
was 212, as compared with 175 in 1942, equivalent to a case rate
of 3.9 per 1,000 population. The disease has continued mild
in character and no deaths due to this cause were recorded.
Of the total number of cases notified 155 were treated in hospital,
and 57 cases were treated at home.
There was one case which was known to be a "return case,"
representing 0.6 per cent. of the cases treated in hospital. There
was no "return case" amongst cases treated at home.
The patient's home was disinfected after his removal to
hospital or his release from isolation, but steam disinfection of
the bedding has been discontinued as a routine procedure.
Diphtheria
Forty-twe cases were notified during the year and all the
cases were removed to hospital for treatment. All the contacts
are swabbed as a routine measure, and school contacts supervised
by the staff of the school medical service.
Diphtheria Immunisation
Efforts have continued during the year to obtain the
immunisation of every child before his second birthday. A birthday
greeting letter is sent on the first birthday, making an
appointment for immunisation, and two extra clinics have been
opened so that no mother is beyond easy walking distance of a
clinic. The health visitors have urged the mothers at the welfare
centres and when making home visits, and have made special
visits in difficult cases.
Immunisation has been continued at the schools, although
large numbers have been immunised during evacuation. All the
non-immunised children at the Day Nurseries were immunised