London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
View report page
Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Islington 1968
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Islington Borough]
This page requires JavaScript
FOOD POISONING
Number of Notifications Received
| 1947 | 8 | 1953 | 270 | 1959 | 196 | 1965 | 115 |
| 1948 | 13 | 1954 | 137 | 1960 | 206 | 1966 | 101 |
| 1949 | 62 | 1955 | 315 | 1961 | 148 | 1967 | 90 |
| 1950 | 109 | 1956 | 174 | 1962 | 112 | 1968 | 53 |
| 1951 | 158 | 1957 | 160 | 1963 | 134 | ||
| 1952 | 84 | 1958 | 230 | 1964 | 131 |
There was only one outbreak during the year to be reported to the Ministry of Health in
accordance with Memo. 188 Med. of the Ministry of Health.
In accordance with Circular 2/50 of the Ministry of Health, the table summarising this outbreak is as follows:-
| Date | No. of Notifications | No. of persons served | No. of cases reported | No. of deaths | Foods involved and organisms responsible |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15.7.68 | 9 | Unknown | 12 | _ | Oven ready Chickens |
| 24.7.68 | Salmonella enteritis (Phage type 8) |
OUTBREAK REPORT
A series of confirmed Salmonella enteritis infections, phage type 8, between 15th and
24th July and a further case with onset on 25th August, 1968, were reported. On investigation
it became evident that, in all cases, chicken was implicated and most of these were of the
same brand and although purchased at different shops were, as far as could be ascertained,
produced from the same packing station.
Symptoms, which lasted between one and five days, varied between moderate to severe and
included abdominal pain, diarrhoea and some vomiting. Two samples of chicken and swabs of the
interior of six chickens were examined but showed no pathogenic organisms present. Investigations
were carried out at the packing station but showed no record of any breakdown in the chlorinating
plant and also samples of chicken and chicken livers submitted at this time revealed no
pathogenic organisms.
This incident was reported to the Ministry of Health who subsequently commented that
in previous similar outbreaks, where the impression was gained that low chlorination of water
was the cause, washing and chilling water in a packing station almost always becomes contaminated
post hoc and a residual concentration of 10 p.p.m. does not sterilise. Although it was agreed
that the chickens might be the cause of the incident the Ministry felt that to make the evidence
more than circumstantial it would be necessary to isolate Salmonella enteritidis from the birds
before their entry to local packing stations.
THE PUBLIC HEALTH (INFECTIVE JAUNDICE) REGULATIONS, 1968.
These regulations made infective jaundice statutorily notifiable by medical practitioners
and came into operation as from 15th June, 1968.
A copy of the regulations was sent to all medical practitioners with a request that
notification of all cases should be made, to enable the medical officer of health to inquire
into the epidemiological background
14