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(4)
PREVALENCE AND CONTROL OP INFECTIOUS AND
OTHER DISEASES
Acute Poliomyelitis
Immunisation against Poliomyelitis has now taken its place as a
routine procedure for infants alongside the well established protective
injections against smallpox, diphtheria, whooping cough and tetanus.
Supplies of Salk vaccine were unfortunately curtailed towards the
end of the year and some injections had to be postponed, Protection
against Poliomyelitis continues to be offered to all persons between 6
months and 40 years of age and to certain others over this age at the
discretion of family doctors. It is important that each course of
injections should be completed if protection is to be effective. Despite
continuous efforts to remind them there are some people of all ages who
are inadequately protected because they have failed to have the number of
doses advised.
One case of Paralytic Poliomyelitis was notified during 1961 .
This was a child who was infected from an unknown source and who made a
good recovery with little residual handicap.
Diphtheria
The following statistics refer to immunisation carried out
during the year:
Number of children immunised during the year
(pre-school 614, school 121) 735
Number of children receiving reinforcing doses 1,586
For the 14th year in succession the district was completely
free from this disease, the last case having been notified in April, 1947.
Under the National Health Service Act all medical practitioners
providing general medical services in the area are given an opportunity
to provide services in the scheme. This has resulted in a number of
children being immunised otherwise than at schools or clinics.
Whooping Cough
The number of cases of whooping cough notified was 10. No
deaths occurred.