[Report 1951] / Medical Officer of Health, Bilston Borough.

  • Bilston (England). Borough Council.
Date:
1951
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1951] / Medical Officer of Health, Bilston Borough. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    3/62 (page 1)
    To the Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors of the Borough of Bilston. Mr. Mayor, Madam and Gentlemen, I have the honour to present my report for the year 1951. There was an increase in the number of cases of Diphtheria during the year. The actual number of confirmed cases was 22 as against 44 notified. The majority of the cases occurred during the months of November and December. The organisms found in the actual cases were of a virulent strain, so it was fortunate that there were only three deaths. The deaths were of school children who had not been fully protected by immunization. The only method of value in the control of the disease is immunisation on a sufficiently large scale. Children should be immunized in infancy and at least once during their school life. A re-inforcing (or booster) dose should be given at about 5 years of age. Page 11 gives more details of the cases. Another matter of interest was that action had to be taken under the National Assistance Acts, 1948 and 1951. This is the first time such action has been taken. Page 12 gives particulars on the matter. 1 take this opportunity of thanking you, Mr. Mayor, Madam and Gentlemen for your support during the year. 1 wish to express my thanks to my colleagues for their co-operation, and to my Staff for their loyal service. 1 have the honour to be, Mr. Mayor, Madam and Gentlemen, Your obedient servant, B. C. HALLER, Medical Officer of Health.