View report page

25
POLIOMYELITIS AND POLIO-ENCEPHALITIS.
During the course of the year, there were notified eight cases
of poliomyelitis, one of which proved fatal. This is a reduction on
the previous year's figure of 17 cases of poliomyelitis with one
death and one case of polio-encephalitis which also proved fatal.
The fatal case was an adult who came into the district in the
early stages of the illness. All the other cases have been followed
up and three have no apparent after effects; two have severe paralysis
of an upper limb; one has a moderate degree of weakness of
a leg and one has slight weakness of a leg. Treatment is continuing
in these four cases.
In addition to the above cases, information was received concerning
a child, normally residing in Enfield, who developed the
disease and died whilst in another district.

Every known possible precaution against the spread of poliomyelitis
was taken in addition to paying attention to watercourses
in co-operation with the Metropolitan Water and Lee Catchment
Boards.
FOOD POISONING
Thirteen cases of food poisoning were notified during the year.
Although on two occasions, two cases were notified from two households,
the remainder were isolated single cases and no outbreak
occurred.
There were, however, reported to me two instances in which
a group of people complained of symptoms of gastro-enteritis,
possibly associated with a mild type of food-poisoning. One
occurred in a school and the other in a factory. Probable causes
of these upsets were elicited by bacteriological examination and
the necessary action taken.