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In another case there was suspicion of the infection being due
to a duck egg. It is now well realised that some element of risk
attaches to the use of lightly cooked duck eggs.
The number of outbreaks of food poisoning in the U.K. has
increased very markedly since pre-war days; and moreover, it is
probable that only a small proportion of the actual number of
cases are notified.
This increase is believed to be due to the great increase in
communal feeding and the use of prepared foods.
The intensive campaign aimed at the food handlers in the
Borough is having good results and the standard of food hygiene is
showing a distinct improvement. This is referred to in more detail
elsewhere in this report.
Dysentery.
Twenty two persons were notified during the year as suffering
from dysentery. In 19 cases the organism was isolated and found
to be of the Sonne type.
The cases were scattered and isolated and not due to any
special focus of infection. Three cases were found at the day
nursery mentioned in the 1949 report.
An unusual feature is the comparatively large number of adults
infected, i.e., 11, but several of these had been in close contact
with children.
Malaria.
Four cases of Malaria were notified, all of which had been
contracted abroad. Two were soldiers who had returned from India
and China, a third a girl of 19 who had been in Egypt, and the fourth
a child of five who had also lived in the East.
With the continuing research into the treatment of malaria,
it is probable that more efficient drugs will be available shortly,
which will cut down the number of relapses.
No primary infections of malaria were notified.
Measles.
Measles remains the commonest of the infectious diseases in
childhood.
During the year 1,016 cases were notified, 434 less than in
the previous year.