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St. Thomas' Hospital Authorities took the necessary measures to prevent
spread within the hospital and arranged screening of all persons attending the ball
to whom they had access.
All hospitals and Medical Officers of Health in the London area were
alerted and information was sent to the Medical Officers of Health of those
authorities in whose areas affected persons were known to reside.
The organism was isolated from 150 persons, but there were no secondary
cases.
The premises and staff of the catering firm supplying the food were checked
by the Medical Officer of Health of the area, with negative results.
It was not possible to identify the vehicle of infection as no specimens of
the food were available.
EPIDEMICS
In no case did the incidence of any disease reach epidemic proportions but
prompt action in the early stages of any known or suspected case is an essential
factor in the prevention of spread of disease. For this reason close liaison and
co-operation is maintained between Boroughs, Schools, Nurseries and Hospitals
and this plays a large part in supplying early information of epidemic threatening
situations.
In this field it is unusual to encounter less than full co-operation from
organisations, businesses and members of the public once the need has been
explained.
INTERNATIONAL
Individuals arriving in this country from areas abroad where certain diseases
are prevalent and who are unable to produce satisfactory evidence of vaccination
are notified that they will be placed under surveillance during the period of
incubation of the disease. Information from ports of entry was received in
respect of 16 persons coming from smallpox infected areas and 5 from cholera
areas. All were visited and kept under surveillance. No cases developed.
An increasing number of people spending holidays abroad risk infections
other than those covered by the international regulations, principally typhoid
fever and other salmonella infections. At the request of employers a number of