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14
Food Poisoning.
104 cases of food poisoning were notified during the year, nearly double the
number for the previous year. Again it must be emphasised that the number of
cases notified does not represent the total incidence of illness due to food poisoning.
It is only exceptionally that food poisoning gives rise to anxiety in an individual
affected, and in fact in many instances, possibly the majority, symptoms are slight
and of short duration and medical attention is.not sought.

Outbreak 1. Information was received from the Public Health Department of
another authority that a number of persons in a motor coach party had been taken
ill whilst en route and had been admitted to hospitals in the area of that authority.
It was thought that the food most likely to be responsible was ham contained in
sandwiches, and enquiries were set on foot immediately at the premises in this
Borough where the sandwiches had been prepared. As a result of these enquiries
it appeared that the ham had been in store for three or four days and unfortunately
the refrigerator in which the food was kept was temporarily out of order. In
conjunction with the Central Public Health Laboratory of the Ministry of Health
and the Health Department of the area in question, pathological examinations and
bacteriological food examinations were carried out. The same organism was
recovered from persons affected, from some members of the staff in the catering
establishment where the sandwiches were prepared and also on the ham itself, so
that there was no doubt that this organism was the cause of food poisoning in this
case, and the main cause, as usual, faulty storage conditions for food not consumed
very soon after preparation. The greatest assistance was given to this Department
by the proprietor and staff in connection with the investigation, and staff found to
be carrying the organism remained off duty until found free after repeated
bacteriological examinations.
Outbreak 2. In this outbreak 16 persons were affected. The organism probably
responsible was isolated from patients affected, but unfortunately no food remained
over which could be examined. The item of food responsible in this case could
therefore not be ascertained.
Outbreak 3. Here a considerable number of persons were reported ill (169 out
of 348 persons served). The food contaminated was boiled beef. Again the risk
was increased by preparation of the food at least a day prior to consumption.
Dysentery.
Notifications of dysentery during the year increased to 133 from 48 in 1949.
In all cases investigated the type of dysentery found was that due to B Sonne,
which does not cause severe illness and which usually clears up, with prbper treatment,
within a few days or in some instances weeks. The organism, however, may