Doctor in the lab.

Abstract

The note also states that "during 1970, 101 cases of malaria were reported by [Public Health] laboratories in the United Kingdom." This figure is a serious underestimate of the total number of cases of malaria notified in Britain. Information provided by the Department of Health and Social Security indicates that the quarterly returns of the Registrar General for 1970 quote 137 confirmed notifications of malaria in England and Wales. In addition to that the Scottish Home and Health Department received in 1970 not less than 24 notifications of malaria of which 19 were confirmed. This brings the known number of malaria cases in England, Wales, and Scotland to at least 156. Carswell and Stevenson2 reported recently that over the period 1965-9 the number of cases of malaria seen in Scotland averaged 20 per annum. Malaria is not notified in Northern Ireland but the cases confirmed by the Public Health Laboratories in 1970 were included in the figures reported in your note. I wish to acknowledge with thanks the assistance obtained from the Department of Health and Social Security in providin2 me with the relevant data. I should also like to draw attention to the excellent Notice to Travellers of 1970 prepared by the D.H.S.S. and available on demand.-I am, etc.