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necessary to close the school, but arrangements were made for the school to be kept under
observation and further swabs were taken 8 days after the original date of swabbing when
the school was free from infection.
The children removed to hospital were found to be carriers of c. diphtheria mitis.
The pathogenicity of the organism was very weak, and I am pleased to be able to report that
no further cases occurred. However, an incident such as this is a pertinent reminder that this
particular organism is still present in the community and that immunisation in early
childhood should in no way be relaxed.
Food Poisoning
Twenty seven cases of food poisoning were notified during the year. The following
table gives an analysis of the various types of salmonella isolated:—
Salmonella Typhimurium 6 Salmonella St. Paul 4
Salmonella Reading 1 Salmonella Litchfield 1
Salmonella Anatum 1 Unknown 14
The majority of these notifications related to sporadic cases. The only exception
involved a husband and wife who were both admitted to hospital with suspected food
poisoning which was later confirmed as Salmonella St. Paul. It was ascertained that they had
both attended a hospital Dinner/Dance in Surrey organised by a large London hospital, the
majority of the guests being staff from that hospital.
The organisers gave information as to the caterers who were traced by the Medical
Officer of Health of the area concerned who carried out the necessary enquiries. In the
meantime the organisers of the function found that other guests had food poisoning
symptoms.
At this stage from the facts at hand it was apparent that a large food poisoning
outbreak was developing. Therefore the Medical Officer of Health of the area where the
hospital was situated was informed of all the relevant facts, for at this time he was not aware
that such an outbreak was evolving in his area. It was later established that approximately
80 people had been infected out of the 800 guests that had attended this function, of which
45 persons were living in this borough at the time, many of them hospital staff all of whom
had to be fully investigated. Of these 45 persons 12 were found to be positive cases of
Salmonella St. Paul.
The cause of the outbreak was finally thought to have been due to the ineffective
thawing, cooking and cooling of the chickens that formed the basis of the menu at this
function.
This outbreak is a good example of the benefit that arises from co-operation
between local authorities; although this particular outbreak did not primarily involve this
borough the first investigations were instituted by my Department following the admission
to hospital of the husband and wife who were local residents.
Smallpox
No case of smallpox has been reported in the area of the present Borough since
1929. However, the Ministry of Health's memorandum on vaccination recommends that
persons likely to deal with cases of smallpox at short notice should be regularly revaccinated
at not more than yearly intervals. During the year 154 members of the staff of the
department were vaccinated or revaccinated.
Typhoid
Five cases of typhoid were notified during the year. Of these, 4 were people coming
into this country from abroad — all requiring hospital treatment.
The remaining case was that of a 25 year old male who also was admitted to
hospital, typhoid being confirmed by blood culture.