View report page

Advice was sought from the medical staff of the department in respect of one patient suffering from
a rash of a type where it was desirable to exclude smallpox as a possible cause. This case was subsequently
diagnosed as chicken pox.
The last reference concerned two technicians who arrived from Germany and who gave business
addresses in Islington, they had been in contact with a child who was admitted to a smallpox hospital with
suspected smallpox.
As they were residing in another borough the Medical Officer of Health of that borough agreed to keep
them under observation until they returned to Germany.
CERTIFICATES OF VACCINATION AND INOCULATION
Applications for authentication dealt with by the Medical Officer of Health numbered 4,243 as against
4,073 for the previous year, the applications comprised requests for authentication of International
Certificates of Vaccination and Inoculation against smallpox, yellow fever, cholera, etc., and constituted a
substantial item of work.
FOOD POISONING
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 1969 157
1952 84 1958 230 1964 131 1970 121
1971 85
There was only one outbreak (summarised below) to be reported in accordance with Memo. 188 Med.
of the Ministry of Health.
No. of No. of No. of No. of
Notifica- persons cases deaths Foods involved and organisms
Date tions served reported responsible
15.7.71. — 75 26 — Chicken Elizabeth
Salmonella enteritidis
The above related to an outbreak involving a firm of caterers who supply pre-cooked meals to various
business premises.
Information was received from another Borough concerning the reported outbreak of food poisoning
amongst members of the staff of a firm operating in their area which occurred on 15th July, 1971. It was
understood that Salmonella enteritidis had been isolated from at least one person who suffered illness, and
that the Islington catering firm were responsible for the preparation and supply of the suspected meal which
included Chicken Elizabeth (cold chicken and cold curry-flavoured mayonnaise).
As a result of detailed investigation it was ascertained that the chickens had been delivered to the
catering firm the day prior to consumption. They were boiled at about mid-day that day for one and a
half hours, allowed to cool, deboned, cooked for a further 45 minutes, cooled and eventually refrigerated
(it was an exceptionally hot day). The meat was removed from the refrigerator the following day, the meal
prepared, plates covered with cellophane and subsequently delivered to the various firms supplied by
mid-day.
30