[Report 1960] / Medical Officer of Health, Northampton County Borough.

VI.—PREVALENCE OF, AND CONTROL OVER, INFECTIOUS AND OTHER DISEASES Measles. 29 notifications of measles were received. The attack-rate was 0*29. There were no deaths. Whooping Cough. 98 notifications of whooping cough were received. The attack-rate was 0-97. There were no deaths. Immunisation against Whooping Cough. The number of children under five years of age immunised against whooping cough was 1,255. This figure includes children immunised with combined diphtheria- pertussis and triple antigen (diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis) prophylactics. Prophylactic whooping cough material is available for the use of general practitioners free of charge on application to the Health Office. Influenza. This is not a notifiable disease, consequently knowledge of its incidence is not very exact. Two deaths were certified as due to influenza, giving a death-rate of 0*02. Acute Poliomyelitis. Cases are notified as “ paralytic ” or “ non- paralytic.” “ Paralytic ” means that there are, or have been, signs of weakness or paralysis of muscles, either permanent or transient. “ Non¬ paralytic ” denotes that there have been no such signs. Two cases (1 paralytic and 1 non-paralytic) were notified, equal to an attack of 0.02. There were no deaths. The paralytic case referred to a 16 months old child, who was admitted to Harborough Road Hospital, where he recovered completely. The non-paralytic case referred to a 4 year old boy, who was ad¬ mitted to Harborough Road Hospital, where he recovered. Neither of these children had been immunised against poliomyelitis.