[Report 1966] / Medical Officer of Health, Uttoxeter U.D.C.

  • Uttoxeter (England). Urban District Council.
Date:
1966
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1966] / Medical Officer of Health, Uttoxeter U.D.C. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    18/44 (page 16)
    TUBERCULOSIS During the year under review 1 new case of tuberculosis was notified and 1 case was transferred into the area. No deaths occurred due to this disease. The incidence of the disease has declined markedly over the years. The average number of notifications annually for Staffbrds- shire for the 1958-1962 period was 39 compared with 27 for the year 1963. The figures for your district over the past 20 years are given in the following table. Year Popula¬ tion New Cases Deaths Pul. Non-Pul. Pul. Non-Pul. 1966 8,370 2 — — — 1965 8,300 — -— — — 1964 8,260 — — — — 1963 8,330 1 — -- — 1962 8,290 — — — — 1961 8,190 — — I — 1960 8,210 — 1 — 1959 8,100 — 2 — — 1958 7,940 1 — 1 — 1957 7,860 — — 1 — 1956 7,820 3 2 1 — 1955 7,580 1 2 — — 1954 7,530 2 — — — 1953 7,391 5 4 1 1 1952 7,400 1 2 — — 1951 7,427 5 — 3 1 1950 7,330 5 1 1 1 1949 7,440 6 1 2 — 1948 7,280 6 4 2 1 1947 6,964 3 4 6 1 However tuberculosis is still a more frequent cause of death than any of the other notifiable acute specific infections, and while improved economic and social conditions have played a part in reducing the incidence of this disease the traditional preventive measures and contact tracing must be pursued with diligence. These measures include the mass radiography service and BCG vaccination of contacts and in schools. With regard to BCG vaccination in schools this service is offered to all children in the first year of the senior school. It is a pity that more parents do not give their consent for tuberculin testing to be carried out, for it not only sorts out those suitable for vaccination but brings to light those in whom there is a strong positive reaction and in whom an annual incidence of tuberculosis of the order of 3.50 per 1,000 may be expected in the next 2| years. These strongly positive reactors need supervision and this is usually arranged with the chest physician for both them and their contacts.