Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for East Ham]
This page requires JavaScript
The following particulars as to the probable sources of infection were obtained: —
Number of Cases. | PROBABLE SOURCES OF INFECTION. |
---|---|
3 | Personal contact with previous cases. These three patients lived in the same house, and were taken ill early in January. Some few weeks prior to this, a sister had been ill and died, the cause being attributed to Pneumonia. This diagnosis was no doubt incorrect, for soon afterwards the father was taken ill, and following him, the three present cases occurred. All were typical attacks of Typhoid Fever, and Widal's test for the disease was positive in every case. (These patients were admitted to Hospital and all recovered.) |
1 | Contracted outside the Borough. The patient was a seaman, he was ill on arrival, and was brought home. |
1 | Attributed to bad fish eaten a few weeks before illness. |
2 | Oysters had been taken within incubation period. |
5 | Due to eating winkles. |
2 | Contact with other cases. Visited a house for 14 days, where three other cases had occurred. |
1 | Had only resided here nine days before the illness. Was unwell before coming to the Borough. |
7 | Origin doubtful, and could not be ascertained. |
The Death-rate from this disease was only 0.01 per 1,000 of population. The rate for England and Wales being 0.07, and that of the 76 Great Towns 0.07 per 1,000 of population. The following table gives the cases notified, the attack rate per 1,000 of population, and the Mortality per cent notified during the past five years:—
Cases Notified. | Attack rate per 1,000 of Population. | Mortality per 100 Cases Notified. | |
---|---|---|---|
1903 | 66 | 0.58 | 22.7 |
1904 | 59 | 0.76 | 23.7 |
1905 | 77 | 0.62 | 20.7 |
1906 | 39 | 0.32 | 22.8 |
1907 | 37 | 0.27 | 5.4 |