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15.
. BACTERIOLOGICAL EXAMINATIONS.
The Public Health Laboratory Service at Colindale, which is directed by
the Medical Research Council for the Ministry of Health, continued to carry
out examinations of swabs, specimens, etc. on behalf of this Council.
The record of examinations carried out during the year is as follows:-
Nose and throat swabs:
Diphtheria Bacilli present 18
Haemolytic streptococci present 65
Organisms of Vincent's Angina present 8
Negative results 632
Faeces specimens:
Shigella sonnei isolated 12
Salmonella isolated 5
Negative results 76
Milk samples 23
Ice Cream samples 15
FOOD POISONING.
One outbreak of Food Poisoning involving 11 notified cases, and five
individual cases occurred during the year.
Details of the outbreak are given below in the form supplied to the
Ministry of Health.
FOOD CAUSING OUTBREAK - Unknown
AGENT CAUSING OUTBREAK - ? carrier(s)
CASES FORMING OUTBREAK which occurred from 8th to 12th July, 1950.
Total notified - 11
Total ascertained - (a) 81 absent from school
(b) at least 30 others had pains
(c) 4 food handlers (2 symptomless)
Fatal - Nil
CLINICAL FEATURES. Average interval ingestion to onset - About 16 hours.
Main symptons, etc. - Diarrhoea and vomiting.
Severity of illness - all degrees, up to D. I. list in hospital.
Duration of illness - 2 days to 5 weeks.
RESULTS OF LABORATORY INVESTIGATION (Summary)
Cases - 3 in Hospital - Salmonella Typhi Murium.
Food Samples - None obtained (not reported until 4 days later)
Food handlers - 4 showed Salmonella Typhi Murium in stools
(2 with no symptoms at any time)
Other - Mouse droppings negative.