London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

View report page

East Ham 1907

[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.
3Personal 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.)
1Contracted outside the Borough. The patient was a seaman, he was ill on arrival, and was brought home.
1Attributed to bad fish eaten a few weeks before illness.
2Oysters had been taken within incubation period.
5Due to eating winkles.
2Contact with other cases. Visited a house for 14 days, where three other cases had occurred.
1Had only resided here nine days before the illness. Was unwell before coming to the Borough.
7Origin 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.
1903660.5822.7
1904590.7623.7
1905770.6220.7
1906390.3222.8
1907370.275.4