[Report 1959] / Medical Officer of Health, Leeds City.

  • Leeds (England). City Council.
Date:
1959
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1959] / Medical Officer of Health, Leeds City. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    38/284 (page 22)
    INFECTIOUS AND OTHER DISEASES BY G. E. Welch, M.B., B.S., D.P.H., Deputy Medical Officer of Health, Deputy School Medical Officer. In contrast to 1958, poliomyelitis was less prevalent than in any year since 1948, this low incidence being general throughout the country. The expected epidemic of measles occurred and there was a considerable increase in the amount of dysentery, the total number of cases being the highest ever recorded. One case of diphtheria occurred, the first bacteriologically confirmed case since 1953- Once again it is a pleasure to record thanks to Dr. G. B. Ludlam and his staff at the Public Health Laboratory for much help and advice during the year. Diphtheria.—The case of diphtheria was in a girl of 5 years and C. diphtherice mitis was isolated. The child had been immunised in her first year of life by the family doctor, who had given three doses of T.A.F. at weekly intervals. The recommended interval between injections of this material is one month and so its seems likely that the effective dose given was equivalent to only one injection of T.A.F. and was sufficient to create only a slight degree of immunity. All class and home contacts of the patient were traced and offered primary immunisation or boosting against diphtheria, whichever was appropriate. Scarlet Fever.—There was a decrease in the number of accepted cases of this disease during the year, 620 as compared with 678 in 1958 and 465 in 1957. Of the 620 cases, 31 (5-0 per cent.) were treated in Seacroft Hospital. The case-rate was 1-21 as compared with 1-33 for the previous year. The disease continues to be mild. There were no deaths. Smallpox, Typhoid and Paratyphoid Fevers, Typhus, Plague and Cholera.—No case of smallpox, typhoid fever, typhus, plague or cholera occurred during the year. Three smallpox contacts were kept under observation. There were 8 cases of paratyphoid B fever. These are reported on as follows.