[Report 1947] / Medical Officer of Health, Ashford U.D.C.

  • Ashford (Kent, England). Urban District Council.
Date:
1947
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1947] / Medical Officer of Health, Ashford U.D.C. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Diphtheria. No cases occurred in the District during the year. This, of course, is chiefly due to immunisation which is proving its value in the prevention of the disease. Records in the Public Health Department show that 60 % of the child population under 15 years have been immunised, but the actual number immunised probably approximates to 75% as many have been immunised of whom there is no record. The Health; Visitors are untiring in their efforts to persuade parents of children! who have not been immunised and other resources are also used to remind and persuade them but many are indifferent or unwilling, It might be asserted, nevertheless, that a sufficient barrier has beenj placed against the advance of the disease, as few cases have occurred! since mass immunisation was begun in 1941. Whooping Cough There was an epidemic of Whooping Cough in tne District durinj the year in which 146 cases, two of whom died, were notified. Them would probably also be a number of slight or missed cases in addition The disease, of course, spreads rapidly, like measles, where cnildrei j are crowded together and is most infectious before the appearancj of the characteristic whoop suggests the diagnosis in the thoughts cj the parents. It is expected that the experimental immunisation at preser being conducted in various districts throughout the Country wi prove the new vaccines of preventive value. Measles. There was also the bi-annual epidemic of measles, in which 25' cases were notified, but as in the Whooping Cough epidem | probably many more cases occurred which were not notified. Oi chiid died due to the common complication of broncho-pneumoni Prophylactic serum is available from the County Laboratory for ail child for whom passive immunity is desirable, if, for example, t] child is in poor health or is suffering from other illness. 1 h Scarlet Fever. * 11 cases occurred throughout the District, during the year, a| - there were no deaths. Four cases occurred in a Hospital havij ! been infected by a missed case, and two cases occurred in cl ,, family. The other cases were sporadic and apparently unrelati This infectious disease can fortunately be easily controlled all treatment by Antitoxin and Chemo-therapy is very successful. Pneumonia. There were 16 cases and 10 deaths. As will be seen from ifl| Is following table, cases occurred in almost all age groups and evidei^j L Chemo-therapy was ineffective. Much depends upon the state)! health and powers of resistance of the patients who become infect i