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A special word of thanks is owing to Mrs. Campbell-Little, who, in
her W.V.S. capacity, organises a rota of volunteers and supervises the
cooking of the meals and the general administration of the service.
The incidence of infectious disease during the year was reasonably
light, with the exception of measles, which showed a marked increase,
there being 426 notified cases, as compared with 81 in 1956.
This number is not excessive, for what can be described as a "measles
year". There were no deaths from the disease, and only three cases were
removed to hospital.
Scarlet fever, with 22 cases, was just about half the number notified
in 1956.
There were 20 cases of pneumonia notified, with only two removals to
hospital. There were, however, 17 deaths from all forms of this disease,
mostly in old persons.
The incidence of whooping cough showed a slight increase. There
were 34 cases notified compared with 25 in the previous year. No cases
were removed to hospital. It is possible that the continuation of whooping
cough vaccination for children below the age of 12 months is beginning
to show results. With the present scheme, every endeavour is made to
have children immunized against whooping cough before they are six
months old. It is generally felt that protection at an early age is of the
utmost value in preventing morbidity and mortality from this disease in
childhood.
One case of paralytic poliomyelitis was notified during the year, this
patient being removed to hospital for nursing. The patient, who was an
expectant mother, made a very good recovery. The infant, however, was
prematurely stillborn.
During the year the Government's scheme for poliomyelitis vaccination
was continued within the prescribed age groups. These were children
born between 1947 and 1954. At the end of the year the Minister extended
the service to include children born between 1943 and 1957 and expectant
mothers.
By the end of the year 1,100 children completed immunization against
poliomyelitis. There were, however, 2,417 cases outstanding, whose
immunizing procedure was continued into 1958.
The general response from the public here was exceptionally good,
acceptances reaching a level of 75 %. There were no cases of inconvenience
or illness (worth recording) associated with the scheme.
It is too early, yet, to say what effect on the incidence of the disease
the campaign is having, but from the experience gained in America
and elsewhere, considerable reduction in incidence can be confidently
expected.
For the ninth year there were no cases of diphtheria notified. The
immunization against this disease continues to occupy a large place in the
work of the department, both in children attending Infant Welfare Centres
and Schools in the Borough.
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