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
Islington 1958
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Islington Borough]
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Food poisoning
Number of notifications received
| 1947 | 7 |
| 1948 | 10 |
| 1949 | 55 |
| 1950 | 104 |
| 1951 | 148 |
| 1952 | 58 |
| 1953 | 243 |
| 1954 | 104 |
| 1955 | 294 |
| 1956 | 141 |
| 1957 . | 150 |
| 1958 | 183 |
In accordance with Circular 2/50 of the Ministry of Health, the following table summarises the outbreaks of food poisoning and the character of each outbreak
| Date | No. of Notifications | No. of persons served | No. of cases reported | No. of deaths | Foods involved and Organisms responsible |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10.9 58 | 1 | 555 | 14 | Nil | Beef: Food samples examined showed no pathogenic organisms present. C1. Welchii isolated from some case3 and symptomless kitchen staff. |
| 27.11.58 | - | 276 | 11 | Nil | Beef: No food samples available. Stool specimens examined from cases and kitchen staff showed no pathogenic organisms present. |
There was some increase in the number of food poisoning notifications
received The first outbreak reported above occurred in connection with a school
It will be apparent that only a relatively small proportion of those who consumed
food which presumably might have given rise to food poisoning actually developed
symptoms Enquiries were instituted by the Public Health Department when
information was received, and particular attention was directed to the meal which
included cold roast beef which had been cooked the previous day Stool specimens
from some of those affected were sent to the Public Health Laboratory.County Hall,
and the food poisoning organism Clostridium Welchii was found. This organism is
heat resistant to a very considerable degree and may be present in meat which is
perfectly sound in appearance.
The second outbreak reported above was also in relation to a school and
again it will be seen that only a small proportion of those who consumed the meal
in question were affected Stool specimens submitted by some of those affected
contained no food poisoning organisms and the causative organism responsible for
this outbreak was not discovered.