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FOOD POISONING:
During the past five years a continual succession of individual
cases of food poisoning have been reported, as well as a few small
family outbreaks. These included a small outbreak in a school which
involved 12 children and two teachers in 1958, and one involving 28
persons in a residential hostel in 1960, The total number of cases
involved in this way was 33 in 1956 9 in 1957, 46 in 1958; 29 in 1959
and 73 in 1960.
All cases during this and previous years were investigated as far
as possible, and all reasonable precautionary action was taken, but in
many cases information was received too late for this to be effective.
The following summary of the 5 year period indicates the number of
cases for which particular organisms were probably responsible.
SALM. Typhi-murium. 16
" Thompson. 4
" Enteriditis. 2
" Newport. 2
" Derby. 2
" Anatum. 1
" Heidelberg. 1
" Stanleyville, 1
" Brandenberg. 1
C. Welchii. 30*
*including 28 in the outbreak in 1960 described below.
In no case was the food responsible definitely ascertained though
a large number of articles were suspected.
Although the number of cases may seem large in relation to the
population in finsbury they do not in my opinion, constitute any
increase from previous experience and nearly all the cases were very
mild, with early symptoms of some temporary Diarrhoea, with occasionally
some nausea or vomiting. All recovered quickly in 24 hours.
The large number reported may well be due to the happy relations
of the Health Department with the members of the public and the doctors
who have given information in regard to cases which in other circumstances
they might not have done. This view is expressed in spite of
the knowledge that there has been some increase generally in the
country in regard to the incidence of food poisoning.
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