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This reducing figure for whooping-cough may be the result of the
growing number of parents availing themselves of whooping-cough
vaccination. If a sufficient number of parents accept this vaccination,
especially during the first year of the infant's life, it may be possible to
reduce the incidence of whooping-cough to negligible proportions, as has
been done in the case of diphtheria.
Two cases of poliomyelitis were notified, one of whom, a young adult,
died in hospital. This patient had acquired the disease whilst on holiday
on the Continent, and succumbed almost immediately on his return home.
The year was memorable for the introduction, for the first time in this
country, of anti-poliomyelitis vaccination. The Minister of Health
announced his scheme in January, and registrations of children in the
1947-1954 age-groups were commenced in March. Of those eligible,
39 per cent (1,307 children) accepted vaccination, and at the end of the
year, 104 children had been vaccinated with the material made available
by the Minister, and a further 16 had received the first injection.
It is too early yet to give an estimate of what the final effects of vaccination
are likely to be, but there is every indication that the proportion
of cases of poliomyelitis amongst vaccinated children is small by comparison
with the unvaccinated. There were no cases of serious illness
associated with the vaccination. Most children took the injections in
their stride and thought no more about it.
Amongst deaths due to infectious diseases, it is necessary to refer to a
death accredited to diphtheria. The circumstances of the case are as
follows.
At the time of his death, the patient, a male, was aged 46, and he died
from chronic nephritis leading to uraemia and malignant hypertension.
It is understood, however, that the deceased's condition was due to an
attack of diphtheria in childhood, and so, in the ultimate sense, the
Registrar-General thought this was the cause of death. This explanation
is necessary, since, as the Corporation are well aware, no case of diphtheria
has occurred in the district since 1948.
No cases of food poisoning were notified during the year, but there
were 19 cases of dysentery notified to the department. These cases were
of a mild character associated with an infection known as sonne dysentery.
Outbreaks of this disease appear from time to time in the Greater London
area, and the district was fortunate in not having more cases, as the
disease was epidemic in some neighbouring areas towards the end of 1955
and the beginning of 1956.
The Chief Public Health Inspector and his assistants continued an
active campaign to ensure compliance with the 1955 Food Hygiene Regulations,
and during the year a total of 937 visits was paid to premises in the
Borough where food is prepared or served. It was found on visiting that
few of the premises entirely satisfied the requirements of the Regulations.
By the end of the year, all food premises had been inspected, and the
proprietors notified of different ways in which they fell short of the required
standard. It was also possible to institute follow-up inspections, in an
endeavour to ensure compliance.
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