[Report 1950] / Medical Officer of Health, Banbury Borough.

  • Banbury (Oxfordshire, England). Borough Council.
Date:
1950
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1950] / Medical Officer of Health, Banbury Borough. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    6/44 (page 4)
    Several cases have been dealt with under the Mousinj^ Act, 1936, Section 11, during the year by the making of demolition orders, but it will be necessary to deal with several Clearance Areas as soon as conditions permit. There is a good deal of overcrowding in the Borough, although at the present moment it is impossible to estimate the position with any degree of accuracy. Infectious Diseases. The incidence of infectious disease in the Borough has again been low. The number of cases of Scarlet Fever is the same as last year (24), not an unduly high figure in view of the degree of overcrowding which is bound to exist. Two new schools have recently been opened in Banbury and further schools are in the course of construction, and this has certainly helped to relieve overcrowding in the schools which is such an important factor in the spread of disease. Four cases of Diphtheria occurred—all in adults who had not previously been immunised. The incidence of Measles and Whooping Cough was low in 1950. With regard to Poliomyelitis the number of cases (8) was rather higher than usual. Of these only 2 were associated with paralysis—both occurred in adults. The preventive measures in this disease are as yet indefinite; the incidence appears to increase as sanitation improves. The most important factor in the preven- tion of subsequent paralysis is the avoidance of physical activity during the early stages of the illness. Food Hygiene. Increasing attention is being paid to the question of Food Hygiene, and as stated in the Chief Sanitary Inspector’s Report, a survey of all food premises in the Borough has now been carried out. This is a subject of supreme importance in con- nection with the spread of all intestinal infections—especially Food Poisoning, Dysentery and Typhoid. Many local authorities are now providing courses of instruction for food handlers in their areas and it seems desirable that such instruction should l>e pro- vided in Banbury at an early date. Staff. I should like, in conclusion, to congratulate the staff of the Health Department in a remarkable number of examination successes gained during the year. Mr. F. Appleyard, Chief .Sanitary Inspector, obtained the Diploma in Public Administra- tion of the Ihiiversity of London. Both Additional Seinitary Inspectors also gained successes. Mr. Cox passed the examination