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17
INFECTIOUS DISEASES
NOTIFICATIONS
Certain infectious and contagious diseases are required to be notified
under the provisions of the Public Health Act, 1936. Details of cases notified
(confirmed diagnoses) in 1965 were as follows:-
Anthrax Nil
Cholera Nil
Diphtheria 5
Dysentery 154
Encephalitis 2
Enteric (Typhoid or Paratyphoid)
fever Nil
Erysipelas 9
Food Poisoning 12
Leprosy Nil
Malaria Nil
Measles 2,446
Membranous croup Nil
Meningococcal infection 7
Ophthalmia neonatorum 7
Plague Nil
Pneumonia 29
Poliomyelitis Nil
Puerperal Pyrexia 40
Scabies 36
Scarlet fever 78
Smallpox Nil
Tuberculosis 134
Typhus fever Nil
Whooping cough 47
DIPHTHERIA
For the first time since 1961 diphtheria was notified in the area now
covered by the present Borough. On 4th February, before the formation of the
Borough, a young boy was admitted to Eastern Hospital from the Reception
Centre, 205 Morning Lane, E.9. with Chickenpox. Subsequently a throat swab
revealed that the boy had the organism C. diphtheria mitis. A thorough
investigation at the reception centre, a local school and other dwellings was
undertaken jointly between the staff of the old Metropolitan Borough of Hackney,
and the staff of the London County Council Division No. 4. Over 1,800 throat
swabs were taken and as a result 40 carriers were discovered and a further
four cases were notified. This incident highlights the need for protection
against childhood infectious diseases and my health visiting staff take every
opportunity to encourage parents to have their children immunised. All
persons found to be cases or carriers were treated in hospital, and the outbreak
successfully brought under control.
MEASLES
This year coincided with the usual biennial outbreak of this infectious
disease. Only 98 out of the total of 2,446 needed to be admitted to hospital
i.e., 4%. This compares very favourably with the previous year when 14% had
to be admitted to hospital. One little girl, aged 2, who also had a
congenital abnormality, died from the disease.
MENINGOCOCCAL INFECTION
Four of the seven cases notified made a satisfactory recovery, but three
cases were notifed posthumously.
OPHTHALMIA NEONATORUM
Of the 7 cases notified five were babies born to Hackney mothers.
POLIOMYELITIS
It is gratifying to record for the third year running that there were no
cases notified.