London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Finsbury 1948
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Finsbury Borough]
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27
Food Poisoning.
During the year there were 3 cases of Food Poisoning notified under the Food and Drugs Act, 1938, amongst Finsbury Residents. 4 outbreaks were investigated at premises in the borough, details as under, the larger number of cases being resident in other districts:
| Total No. of outbreaks | No. of cases | No. of deaths | Organisms or other agents responsible with No. of outbreaks of each | Food involved with No. of outbreaks of each |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | approx. 170 | Nil | Coagulase Positive Staphylococcus Serological Type IIIc Phage Type 6/47 (one outbreak) | Pressed Beef (one outbreak) |
| Details:— | Others—no definite conclusions | |||
| 1. A luncheon club (30.8.48) | approx. 35 | Nil | Coagulase Positive Staphylococcus Serological Type IIICPhage Type 6/47 | Pressed Beef (one outbreak) |
| 2. A school (26.1.48) | approx. 58 | Nil | ||
| Not known | Not known | |||
| 3. A school (11.2.48) | approx. 48 | Nil | Not known | Not known |
| 4. A school (29.9.48) | approx. 29 | Nil | Not known | Not known |
In addition to the outbreaks recorded the following incidents
occurred:—
(a) an infant aged 13 months was notified as suffering from
enteritis caused by Salmonella Typhi-murium. No source of this
infection was traced.
(b) information was received that several members of a family
suffered from diarrhoea after the consumption of some fish paste.
The doctor, however, was not convinced that these were cases of
true food poisoning and thought they might have been due to gastric
influenza. Information was received too late to allow of satisfactory
investigations being carried out.
(c) information was received from 2 hospitals independently
that both of two infants of one family were suffering from infection
by Salmonella enterides. Investigations showed that the father
had suffered from chronic diarrhoea for a year or more and that his
stools on culture yielded a growth of this organism. He was
admitted to Hospital and treated with streptomycin and his stools
have since remained negative. Other investigations yielded no
further information.