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STATISTICS AND SOCIAL CONDITIONS
Tuberculosis Fifty-seven cases of respiratory tuberculosis were notified, and eighteen cases of tuberculosis of other
organs were also notified. There were four deaths from respiratory tuberculosis.
Food poisoning Forty-three cases of food poisoning were notified — 35 less than last year. The causative organism was
Clostridium Welchii in eight cases while Salmonella organisms accounted for 32 of the remaining
notifications.
Infective jaundice
Dysentery (Sonne)
Typhoid
During May an outbreak of food poisoning occurred in a group of children returning from an
"adventure school" in Wales. A number of staff and children were ill and eight were found to be
suffering from infection by Clostridium Welchii, but the causative organism was not isolated from
food eaten by the party.
Sixty-nine cases of infective jaundice were notified and contact with a known case was established in
30 instances. Eighteen, including four known to have had contact with a case, were known to have
eaten shellfish within the previous 40 days.
Two hundred and twenty-six cases were notified as against 67 persons last year. One hundred and
seventy-six cases were associated with outbreaks of Sonne Dysentery at three schools and two day
nurseries.
One case of typhoid fever occurred in a child aged six years. He had been looked after by his grandmother,
since identified as a carrier.
Paratyphoid fever No cases of paratypoid fever were notified during the year.
Meningitis (acute) Twelve isolated cases were notified.
Poliomyelitis Two cases of paralytic poliomyelitis were reported in the borough during the year. In one instance
the infection was apparently contracted abroad.
Diphtheria One case of diphtheria occurred in a resident of the borough while in North Africa on holiday.
Encephalitis One case of acute encephalitis was notified. The patient was a coach driver who travelled throughout
(acute) the country.
Malaria Three cases of malaria were notified, the patients having contracted the disease abroad.
Leptospirosis
Public Health
(Ships)
Regulations 1970
Public Health
(Aircraft)
Regulations 1970
Disinfection
Sections 166 —
168 Public
Health Act 1936
Public Health
Laboratory
Service
One case of Leptospirosis was reported. The patient, a housewife, had cut her hand whilst clearing a
drain.
Port Health Authorities notified 27 persons and three persons respectively as arriving from declared
smallpox and cholera endemic areas. All were kept under surveillance for the statutory period and in
no case did they develop smallpox or cholera.
Local authorities have the power to provide a disinfecting station and to arrange for the cleansing and
disinfection of premises and articles. In most cases of infectious disease terminal disinfection of rooms
and contents can be satisfactorily effected by a thorough "spring cleaning" using soap and water.
Sometimes, cleansing with white fluid disinfectant or even the use of formaldehyde is necessary.
During the year, only three properties were treated with formaldehyde. At the Council's disinfecting
station, items treated by steam or formaldehyda included 25 garments, 134 articles of bedding and
303 library books. Used clothing, consisting of 68 separate items, was treated for despatch to
countries which require certification that treatment has been effected. No charge is made by the
Council for these services.
The Public Health Laboratory Service at Whipps Cross Hospital, London, E.11, is available for the
examination of bacteriological specimens. For the convenience of general practitioners and the public,
several specimen collection boxes are positioned at various points throughout the borough. The specimens
are collected from the boxes daily and delivered to the laboratory.
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