[Report 1960] / Medical Officer of Health, Chichester City.

  • Chichester (England). City Council.
Date:
1960
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1960] / Medical Officer of Health, Chichester City. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    17/42 (page 15)
    DIPHTHERIA No cases of the disease were notified during the year and there has, in fact, only been 1 during the past 10 years in the City. The success of the diphtheria inununisation campaign over the past 15-20 years has meant the virtual wiping-out of the disease and a tendency on the part of some parents to assume that it is no longer necessary to accept the advice given them to have their babies immunised against diphtheria. When some have never seen a case of the disease, they are reluctant to bring their children along for yet another injection. From time to time, however, outbreaks occur throughout the country amongst unprotected children (5 deaths being registered in 1960 as against none for 1959) and it is to be hoped that they serve as a timely warning that there is no ground for complacency at the present time. It is encouraging to note that the nvimber of children up to the age of 14 who received a primary course of dyphtheria immunisation in the City during 1960 again showed a rise, from 275 in 1959 to 308. In addition, 189 (as compared with 196 in 1959) received the secondary (reinforcing) dose. MEASLES 2 notifications only of the disease were received during 1960, compared with 209 in the preceeding year. No deaths were recorded. SCARLET FEVER 5 cases only were notified, as compared with 3 in 1959. The disease was mild in type and no deaths or complications were reported. WHOOPING COUGH There were 7 cases only during the year, a considerable reduction from the figure of 20 recorded in 1959. Again no deaths from this disease were registered. FOOD POISONING Although 11 cases of this disease were reported in 1959, no notifications were received in 1960. It is a matter of conjecture as to the number of incidents of intestinal upset which are not notified and where the patient has eaten something which did not agree with him and recovered after a day or two. Any instance of diarrhoea and/or vomiting, with relatively rapid onset of symptoms, should be viewed with suspicion, esp>ecially after the consumption of meat or meat products, cream, etc., and this department notified without delay, in order that investigations can be carried out to trace the source of infection. DYSENTERY 4 cases only were notified during the year, compared with 21 in 1959.