[Report 1959] / Medical Officer of Health, Neath Borough.

  • Neath (Wales). Borough Council.
Date:
1959
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1959] / Medical Officer of Health, Neath Borough. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    8/44 (page 6)
    INFECTIOUS DISEASES. There were no large outbreaks of infectious disease again this year. Twenty-two cases of measles, 12 cases of scarlet fever and 17 cases of whooping cough were all that were notified to the Department. These were of a mild type and in no case was hospitalisation recommended. I specially want to record that again this year no case of poliomyelitis was notified. 1 feel sure that the mass vaccination against poliomyelitis has played an important role in achieving this result. This is the second consecutive year that no case has occurred in the Borough. The position reminds me of the period immediately following the year 1941, when immunisation against diphtheria began on a large scale. Since that year no case of diphtheria has been reported in the Borough of Neath. Up to the end of December, 1959, the following number of injections of poliomyelitis vaccine have been given :— 7,860 persons received one injection. 7,866 persons received two injections. 9,306 persons received three injections. The scheme is being vigorously persued and special vaccination clinics are being held every week. Indeed, if the number of acceptances warrant it, places of employment are visited and the vaccine given to the employees during their working hours. Here I must say that I have had every assistance and encouragement from the employers, who have even put their own nursing staff and medical rooms at our disposal. TUBERCULOSIS. Twenty-seven cases of pulmonary and three cases of non-pulmonary tuberculosis were notified during 1959. There were four deaths. One is beginning to feel that with the introduction of the new drugs, improved chest surgery, earlier diagnosis, better housing conditions and a better standard of living that we are slowly getting the upper hand of this disease. The number of notifications are decreasing and the number of deaths from tuberculosis has been decreasing for the last few years. Still, there is no room for complacency. We must still be very active in following up all contacts and attempt to trace every possible source of infection. B.C.G. VACCINATION. One very important preventive measure about which I feel the public is tint as enthusiastic as it might be is B.C.G. Vaccination. At present B.C.G. is offered to all children of 13 years of age and over who arc attending our Grammar, Technical and Secondary Modern Schools, and indeed, any private school where children of this age attend. The report of the Medical Research Council on the protection conferred by vaccination with B.C.G. is most promising and I can only advise parents to complete the consent forms when their children are offered it.