View report page

43
Poliomyelitis
There was one case of mild paralytic poliomyelitis during the
year, the first since September, 1957. The immunisation campaign
was undoubtedly responsible for the diminishing number of cases.
For England and Wales the number of cases goes down considerably
year by year and even week by week.
Polio Vaccination
The scheme was once again extended and now includes all up
to 40 years of age.
Numbers vaccinated in 1959
Primary courses Third injections
Children 3,049 7,577
Adults 3,516 1,214
The total number inoculated since the inception of the scheme
is 15,613, which includes 12,635 children or 80.7 per cent. of the
estimated child population.
The response from the group age 25 to 40 was very poor at
first. As a result of the anti-polio campaign there was a temporary
increase which soon subsided, making this the least responsive of all
groups.
Enteric Fever
There were no cases of enteric fever during the year.
Diarrhœa and Enteritis Under Two Years of Age
No death was registered during the year.
Food Poisoning Outbreaks
There were 27 notified cases in 1959 and a further 37 cases
resulting from an outbreak in a factory. Of the 27 notified cases
there were four family outbreaks involving a total of 13 people and 14
single cases. The illness was caused by S. Typhimurium in three
cases, S. Bredeney in one case, S. Anatum in one case and, in the
case of the factory outbreak, by C1. Welchii. In the remaining 22
cases the cause was not known. The factory outbreak was found to
be due to infected meat but in all other cases the source could not
be ascertained.