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

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East Ham 1907

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for East Ham]

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The schools chiefly affected by the above two diseases were as follows, arranged in order according to the number of cases occurring in each:—

Scarlet Fever.Diphtheria.
Walton RoadKensington Avenue
Fourth AvenueHigh Street
Essex RoadLathom Road
Plashet LaneNapier Road
Manor ParkEssex Road
Kensington Avenue
Central Park
Hartley Avenue

The majority of the above schools are those in which
the number of children on the books is in excess of the
accommodation, there is, therefore, more or less overcrowding,
which of course favours the spread of infection whenever
a case of either disease is introduced into such a
school. The schools in which the accommodation is in excess
of the number on the books, that is, where no overcrowding
exists, suffered the least from all infectious illnesses.
In nearly every instance the Infants' department has
been the one chiefly affected, the Boys' and Girls' suffering to
a much less extent.
3. Measles.—Information concerning 791 cases was
received from the schools during the year. A rather large
number of cases of this disease occurred in the early part of
the year, chiefly during February and March. School
closure is more often required for Measles than for any other
disease, owing to the fact that it is infectious for several days
before the rash appears, also from the fact that all young
children not protected by a previous attack are very susceptible
to it.