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OPHTHALMIA NEONATORUM. One case was reported but no damage to sight resulted.
PUERPERAL PYREXIA. During the year 70 cases were notified as compared with 98
cases in 1957. No woman died from puerperal or post-abortion sepsis.
MEASLES. This disease was less prevalent - 275 cases as compared with 804 in
1957.
WHOOPING COUGH. The notifications of whooping cough, 44, were fewer than in
1957. Facilities for immunisation against this disease are available, and 795 were
inoculated. The condition is most fatal in young babies, and protection should be provided
before the child is six months old. There is evidence that, with the improvement
in the vaccine, the protection, if not complete, does mitigate the severity of the
attack.
MALARIA. One case of malaria was notified during the year. The infection had
been contracted overseas.
INFLUENZA. This disease caused 7 deaths as compared with 9 in 1957.
MUMPS, CHICKEN POX, GERMAN MEASLES. These diseases are not notifiable, but
cases are brought to the notice of the Department through schools, health visitors, etc.
During the year, the following cases were recorded: Mumps 91; Chicken pox, 249 and
and German measles, 62.
FEVER HOSPITALS. The Borough is served by the South Middlesex Infectious
Diseases Hospital, but on occasion, accommodation in other fever hospitals of the North
West Metropolitan Regional Hospital Board is used. During the year, 126 patients from
the Borough were admitted to these hospitals. Close contact is maintained between the
hospitals and the Health Department, so that any necessary action can be taken.
DISINFECTION. The disinfection of bedding, etc. is done at the South Middlesex
Infectious Diseases Hospital, while the disinfection of homes is carried out by the
disinfectors on the Health Department staff. During the year six rooms were disinfected
and 10 lots of bedding destroyed. Five lots of clothing were disinfected before being
sent abroad.
LABORATORY. Certain routine bacteriological work is done in the laboratory at
the Health Department. When more detailed investigation is required, specimens are sent
to the National Public Health Laboratory Service. The number of specimens examined
during 1958 was 298.
FOOD POISONING. During 1958 notifications of the occurrence of food poisoning
in 73 persons were received, and during the course* of our investigations and from other
sources, a further 7 cases were discovered. A summary of the cases is given below -
Cases of Pood Poisoning
1st 2nd 3rd 4th
Quarter Quarter Quarter Quarter Total
19(14) 9(7) 26(26) 26(26) 80(73)
Outbreaks due to identified agents
Total outbreaks Total cases
2 4(4)
Outbreaks of undiscovered cause
Total outbreaks Total cases
15 41(34)
Single cases
Agent identified Unknown cause Total cases
9 28 35(35)
() notified under Section 26 of the Food and Drugs Act, 1955.
The majority were single cases. The largest number affected in any one outbreak
was 5 and this was associated with a Works canteen.
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