[Report 1953] / Medical Officer of Health, Pontypool R.D.C.

  • Pontypool (Wales). Rural District Council.
Date:
1953
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1953] / Medical Officer of Health, Pontypool R.D.C. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    7. Infectious Diseases. During 1953, the Pontypool Rural District was again remarkably free from any severe outbreaks of Infectious Diseases. Measles and Whooping Cough. The incidence of measles has ebbed and flowed at intervals of 2 years, 1953 being an epidemic year with 75 notifications and maximum ago incidence under 9 years. As Measles and its complications attack the younger child more severely, it is wise to take all preventive measures to delay the age of infection, similarly with whooping Gough infection. It is satisfactory that the latter, which is still a dreaded disease of infancy, did not rear its head to any marked degree. Advances in therapeutic agents with improved nursing care in recent years have helped to lower the fatality from these diseases. Less overcrevading in the houses through reduction in family size, and in some cases improved housing may also have contributed to the decline in mortality. Scarlet Fever. There were only three notifications of Scarlet Fever in 1953. All cases continued to be mild in character and carried no fatality. It is probable that the improvement in this disease has been due not only to the mild type of the attacking haemolytic streptococcus but also to the introduction in recent years of sulphonamides and other antibiotics in the treatment of Scarlet Fever. Diphtheria. The incidence-of Diphtheria in England and Wales has steadily declined since the national campaign was extensively undertaken in 1942. There were no notifications of this disease in Pontypool Rural District in 1953,but there is still danger - especially if immunisation is neglected. Children still die of it and even if a child does not die the illness may be long and painful. The object of immunisation is to afford each child the maximum degree of protection, and unless an adequate level of immunisation is maintained there maybe a return of diphtheria outbreaks. Parents should see that their children have this protection and should avail themselves of the facilities provided. Infantile Paralysis. Infantile Paralysis ’was again conspicuous by its absence from the Pontypool Rural District. Food Poisoning. We have been fortunate that there ha' , been no large outbreak of Food Poisoning in the District of recent years, and there were no notifications of this disease in 1953. Food Poisoning would largely be eliminated if good kitchen hygiene was observed by all food handlers, and only freshly cooked food served at all times. Tuberculosis. Mortality from Tuberculosis has steadily declined during the present century and in 1953, only one death from this disease