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71
Outbreak due to unidentified, agent
Two adults (male and female) were admitted to hospital within
a few hours of eating a meal in a restaurant. Enquiries showed that
six people were affected. They had all eaten a meal, the basis of
which was tinned turkey (Hungarian). As it was suspected that the
cause was a 'blown tin,' a specimen, together with all other ingredients
used, was submitted for bacteriological examination, and faecal
specimens were also submitted by the food handler. All results were
negative.
Single cases
Thirteen isolated cases of food poisoning were notified. In
ten of these, no causative agent was identified, but in the remaining
three cases the identified agents were-
Salmonella bredenay 2
Salmonella typhimurium 1
INFECTIOUS DISEASE
Smallpox
No case was notified in the borough during 1962.
In connection with outbreaks which occurred at Paddington,
Bradford, Birmingham, Cardiff and Dusseldorf, only four known contacts
resided in the borough. Surveillance of these was undertaken, and
also of contacts working in the borough, for periods up to sixteen
days.
The Ministry of Health's Memorandum on Vaccination against
smallpox recommends that public health officers likely to have to deal
with cases of smallpox at short notice should be regularly revaccinated
at not more than yearly intervals. During the year 40 members of the
staff of the public health department were vaccinated or revaccinated
by the Medical Officer of Health.
Scarlet Fever
The number of cases notified in 1962 was 15. There was no
fatal case during the year; in fact, there has been no death from
scarlet fever in Kensington since 1940.
Diphtheria
No case of diphtheria was notified during the year.
Enteric Fever
During the year two cases of typhoid fever were notified.
The first case was a 17-year old Pakistani who arrived in
this country and was admitted to hospital fourteen days later as
suffering from malaria. Subsequently it was diagnosed that he also
had typhoid fever. All contacts remained well and submitted negative
specimens.
The second case involved an adult female living at a hostel
who was admitted to hospital. Enquiries revealed that the patient
had consumed shell fish bought at a stall at a South Coast resort.
The local Medical Officer of Health was notified and requested to