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8. The outbreak in this case occurred in members of a coach party travelling to
a seaside resort. Tongue and spam sandwiches were eaten at 11 a.m., and
within 2—4 hours members of the party were taken ill with fairly severe
symptoms of sickness and diarrhœa. Eight persons were kept overnight at the
hospital in the seaside resort, others were less severely ill. All hospital patients
were discharged the following morning, and recovery was rapid in all cases.
The meats for the sandwiches were cooked two days before the outing and
were kept at room temperature until made up into sandwiches. There was,
therefore, ample time for the germs to multiply, and since the meats were kept
for two days at room temperature the conditions were no doubt favourable
for the rapid growth of food poisoning organisms.
9. This was a domestic outbreak occurring in a single family. It is very probable
that infected duck eggs were the cause of the illness in this case, taken in the
form of fried duck eggs.
The campaign for safer food is dealt with in the Health Publicity section of
this Report.
Dysentery
Whereas I had to report in 1951 that 995 notifications of dysentery had been
received during the year, the highest number to be recorded, this position, fortunately,
did not continue. The dysentery cases notified in 1953 numbered 372. The
routine arrangements previously reported for the follow-up of dysentery cases and
their contacts continued to be followed. All notified cases were visited by a Sanitary
Inspector or Infectious Disease visitor, and arrangements made, unless otherwise
desired by the General Practitioner attending, for examination of stool specimens at
the Archway Group Laboratory, except in those cases where the patient was
attending hospital. Of the 372 notified cases, 280 were confirmed as suffering
from Shigella Sonnei.
Scabies and Vermin
The number of cases of scabies treated continues to decrease. Benzyl benzoate
continues to be the treatment of choice for scabies and proprietory 2 per cent.
D.D.T. emulsion for the treatment of verminous heads. Both of these preparations
have given extremely satisfactory results for their respective purposes.
The Deputy Medical Officer of Health is available at the Public Health Department,
Seven Sisters Road, for the examination of complicated cases of scabies or
special cases referred by General Practitioners.