[Report 1957] / Medical Officer of Health, Oldham County Borough.

  • Oldham (England). County Borough Council. nb2004302054.
Date:
1957
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1957] / Medical Officer of Health, Oldham County Borough. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Local hospitals were affected by staff sickness and by the demand for admission of the more severe and complicated cases of influenza. It was necessary in some specialities for the admission of non-urgent cases to be restricted. The majority of the cases of influenza requiring hospital treatment were admitted to Westhulme Hospital for Infectious Diseases. Visiting in hospitals, except of the seriously ill, was suspended. A vaccine effective against this particular strain of influenza virus was prepared and was issued by the Ministry of Health in small quantities for certain priority groups, i.e., General Practitioners, Hospital Staffs and those members of Local Authority Staffs such as nurses, midwives and ambulance personnel likely to be in contact with patients. It was not possible, however, for the first issue to be made until the first week of October, by which time the local epidemic was waning. A total of 140 individuals in these priority groups were vaccinated. No deaths from influenza or influenzal pneumonia were registered in the first eight months of 1957. Thereafter 35 deaths were registered from these causes, of which 34 occurred in September and October. With the exception of two young children all the deaths were in adults over 25 years of age. One of the two child deaths was at the end of November—almost two months after the epidemic wave had left the town. -;V' Diphtheria No cases were notified and no deaths registered. Scarlet Fever There were 72 cases notified compared with 130 in the previous year. No deaths were registered. Erysipelas There were 8 cases notified compared with 11 in the previous year. Of the 8 cases notified, 7 occurred in persons 45 years of age and over. No deaths were registered. Enteric Fever (a) Typhoid No cases were notified and no deaths registered. (b) Para-typhoid No cases were notified and no deaths registered. Meningococcal Infection There were 5 cases of meningococcal meningitis notified and confirmed. The meningococcal organism was isolated in 4 cases. One death was registered, a male child aged 5 months, who died shortly after admission to hospital. Acute Encephalitis One case was notified, a female aged 72 years. She made a complete recovery. Acute Primary Pneumonia There were 49 cases notified and 11 deaths registered. Of the 11 deaths registered 10 were brought to notice on the registrar’s returns and the cases were not notified.