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6
Poliomyelitis.
There was a considerable decrease in the incidence of this
disease during the year, only 2 cases were notified compared with
11 in 1957. There was one case of the paralytic type and one
non-paralytic.
During the year 24,458 vaccinations against the disease were
carried out in Division 1, either at clinics or by family doctors.
Food Poisoning.
There were 36 cases of Food Poisoning during the year,
compared with 49 in 1957.
Salmonella typhi-murium was identified in 12 cases, salmonella
Thompson in 1 case, and salmonella Newport in another, but in
the remaining cases no causa organism was recovered.
Towards the end of the year a report was received regarding
an outbreak of suspected food poisoning in a factory in the
Borough. The canteen at this factory was run by a firm of
independent caterers, and samples of the meal eaten by the
affected persons were sent to the Public Health Laboratory. The
samples consisted of chicken, ham and sausage, and heat resistant
C1. Welchii was isolated in all three items. Stool specimens were
obtained from the members of the canteen staff and similar
organisms were found in two members, namely, a vegetable cook
and a washer-up. Both reported to their own doctors and received
treatment, which was still continuing at the end of the year.
Apart from this there were no serious outbreaks, but foods
alleged to have been responsible for the patients' condition included
meat pie, swiss roll, lamb chop, sausages, tinned meat, cream cake,
frozen fish fingers, fish frying fat, and ham.
Dysentery.
There were 122 cases of Dysentery notified compared with
137 in 1957.
During the year there were two outbreaks in London County
Council Day Nurseries, namely, Dalling Road and Brook Green.
Once again the clinical exclusion method of control failed to
stop new cases appearing and bacteriological control was used and
again proved to be successful.
The outbreaks lasted for three weeks and five weeks respectively.
Medicinal Baths.
New features in infection of the community with insect paransites
are of obvious importance.
During 1958, for the first time in our experience, two men
have had to be treated for head lice. This insect only makes its
home in the scalp, and in scalps which are untroubled by the comb.