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
Surbiton 1964
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Surbiton]
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SONNE' DYSENTERY
This is a highly infectious condition and can spread rapidly
among members of the same family and of groups such as classes in
school and, if given time, widely among school children. Hence the
importance of early recognition, notification and the institution of
measures to prevent the spread and cure of individual cases.
The following table shows the number of cases occurring since first recognition of this disease in Surbiton in 1951:-
| 1951 | 1952 | 1953 | 1954 | 1955 | 1956 | 1957 | 1958 | 1959 | 1960 | 1961 | 1962 | 1963 | 1964 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 62 | - | 10 | 12 | 25 | 289 | 202 | 28 | 123 | 2 | - | 12 | 76 | 4 |
POLIOMYELITIS The figures since 1950 are given below:-
| YEAR | CASES | DEATHS |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 8 | 1 |
| 1951 | 1 | - |
| 1952 | 2 | 1 |
| 1953 | 3 | - |
| 1954 | 2 | - |
| 1955 | 8 | - |
| 1956 | 1 | - |
| 1957 | 6 | - |
| 1958 | - | - |
| 1959 | - | - |
| 1960 | - | - |
| 1961 | 1 | - |
| 1962 | - | - |
| 1963 | - | - |
| 1964 | - | - |
Arrangements are made whereby doctors may collect antipoliomyelitis
vaccine from the Public Health Department.
Vaccination with Sabin oral vaccine was started in April 1962
and has since been increasingly used. The vaccine given by mouth,
not only provides protection but also prevents protected persons from
harbouring natural dangerous poliomyelitis virus and spreading disease
to unprotected persons. This type of vaccine would be of great value
during an epidemic because it works quickly.
FOOD POISONING.
There were two confirmed cases notified by general medical
practitioners; the causative organisms were identified as shown belows:-
S. Typhi murium 1 case
S. Brandenberg 1 case
The ages of the two persons were as follows:-
16 years S. Brandenberg
44 years S. Typhi murium
No source of origin of infection could be traced in either of the
cases.
No outbreaks of food poisoning in the town were notified in 1964
15