London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Hackney 1973
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Hackney]
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21
INFECTIOUS DISEASES
Details of infectious and contagious diseases notified in 1973 were as follows:-
| Anthrax | Nil | Meningitis (acute) | 11 |
| Cholera | Nil | Opthalmia Neonatorum | 3 |
| Diphtheria | Nil | Plague | Nil |
| Dysentery | 12 | Poliomyelitis (acute) | Nil |
| Encephalitis (acute) | Nil | Scarlet Fever | 26 |
| Enteric (typhoid or para-typhoid fever) | 2 | Smallpox | Nil |
| Tetanus | Nil | ||
| Pood Poisoning | 94 | Tuberculosis | 136 |
| Infective Jaundice | 37 | Typhus Fever | Nil |
| Leptospirosis | Nil | Whooping cough | 25 |
| Malaria | 2 | Yellow Fever | Nil |
| Measles | 586 |
Measles shows in natural areas with a static population epidemic
extension in alternate years. In Hackney this pattern has not appeared for
several years, perhaps partly because of a non-static population and partly
in later years because of the immunisation programme that was initiated in
1968. Over the years there has been a steady decline in the incidence of
measles. In 1955 2,446 cases were notified; in 1968, the year the immunisation
programme started, the number dropped to 398; in 1969-1970 it was more than
1,000, and in 1972 it was an all-time low at 281. In 1973 it had doubled to
586, about the same as in 1971, and it could be the alternate years epidemic
extension.
Year after year the number of notifications of whooping cough showed
wide variation. The reason for this may be that sure diagnosis of whooping
cough can only be made if confirmed bacteriologically, and nowadays many virus
infections and plasmocytosis may give the same symptoms and then be notified
as whooping cough. This year the number was 24 as compared with 8 last year and
117 in 1970.
Eleven cases of acute meningitis were notified and of these three were of
meningococcal origin.
Two cases of para-typhoid appeared in the Borough, both contracted abroad.
The number of dysentery notifications dropped from 57 to 12; on the otherhand
food poisoning increased by cases, from 86 to 94. Both infections are
food borne and cause gastro-enteritis.
Public Health Laboratory Service
Bacteriological specimens are sent to the Public Health Laboratory at
County Hall and at Whipps Cross. An analysis of the specimens submitted for
examination is set out below:-