[Report 1950] / Medical Officer of Health, Lydd U.D.C. / Borough.

  • Lydd (England). Urban District Council.
Date:
1950
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1950] / Medical Officer of Health, Lydd U.D.C. / Borough. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    i r *r C]\ when the disease is too advanced foi any other than symptomatic treatment. It is pleasing to record that there were no deaths from Infectious Disease. Of the notifiable diseases, only 7 cases of Measles, 7 cases of Whooping Gough and 1 case of Erysipelas were notified. Measles and Whooping Gough are .most' infectious before the diagnosis is usually confirmed and during this' period, commonly about 7 days, the infection is disseminated in classrooms and in other places where children congregate. Control therefore is almost impossible. Fortunately the3/ are not per se killing diseases, like Diphtheria, but their complications such as-broncho-pneumonia can be very dangerous in infants. Active immunisation against Whooping Cough is still very uncertain and should not be promised to pu rents, unlike immunisation against Diphtheria which can definitely be promised as a safe-guard and which since the mass campaign was begun in 1941 has almost ’eliminated the disease from the Country, There must however, be no slackening in propaganda and ev ry effort should be maintained to keep the need for it in the minds of pi rents. Although the disease is becoming uncommon, the possibility of its occurence should be kept in mind, particularly in adults and in children who'have not: been immunised or if-immunised who have not received further inoculations to re-inforce waning immunity, It is noteworthy that no infectious disease of a really serious ntaure occured in the Borough. For example, no case of A.cute Polie-myelitis (Infantile Paralysis) has occured for more than 6 years. Wo cases of Food Poisoning were notified, but constant supervision of food and food preparing and cooking premises is essential to prevention. The number of outbreaks of Food roisoning has considerably increased throughout the Country since the last war. One new case of Pulmonary Tuberculosis was notified, and the total number of pulmonary (respiratory) cases on the register at the end of the year was 6. The number of cases therefore is relatively small and the notification rate viz. 0,38 per 1,000 of the- estimated population was very low. There are no cases in the Borough of other forms of Tuberculosis. The causal organism in the majority of these latter cases is the Bovine Bacillus, which is conveyed to the human body In most instances by infected milk. It may be assumed therefore, as a corollary, that the milk supplies in the Borough have contained few, if any, of these dangerous organisms. Milk however, is always a potential source of danger and pasteurisation, or boiling especially for infants and young children, of all milk consumed is the only certain safeguard, not only against the Tubercle Bacillus but also against many other types of organism which may cause an outbreak of infectious disease. In conclusion I should like to thank you for your interest and co-operation in the work of the Department and the staff for their loyal and efficient service. I am, Yours obediently, J, MARSHALL.