London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Hornchurch 1955

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Hornchurch]

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42
I do not think that the low incidence of Food Poisoning can be
ascribed entirely to a meticulous regard for the desirable standards
of food handling. A great deal remains to be done before one can go
into a shop or cafe in the district with the confidence that nothing
will be found to give cause for a certain disquiet. I think that due
to the advice of our Sanitary Inspectors, propaganda being conducted
on a national basis and the increased awareness of the general
public in this matter, not to mention the enhanced interest shown by
the shopkeepers themselves, a higher standard of food hygiene
generally is becoming a rule, but it can still be improved without
any unreasonable degree of effort. It is in this connection that one
has hopes of the Food Hygiene Regulations made under the Food
and Drugs Act, 1955, and which will come into full effect in the
middle of 1956.
The following is a copy of the Annual Return of Food Poisoning
notifications for the year 1955 which is sent to the Ministry of
Health in accordance with statutory requirements :
188
Appendix D(i) to Ministry of Health Memo Med. (Revised
1949)—FOOD POISONING (Corrected).
1. Local Authority : HORNCHURCH U.D.C. Year: 1955.
2. Food Poisoning Notifications (Corrected) Returned to R.G.
1st Quarter. 2nd Quarter. 3rd Quarter. 4th Quarter. TOTAL
2 4 3 6 15
3. Outbreaks Due to Identified Agents :
Total Outbreaks : Nil. Total Cases : Nil.
4. Outbreaks of Undiscovered Cause :
Total Outbreaks : Nil. Total Cases : Nil.
5. Single Cases:
Agent Identified : 5. Unknown Cause : 10. 15
(Salmonella Typhimurium : 4)
( ,, Enteritidis: 1)

Poliomyelitis.

As noted earlier 25 cases occurred this year as against only 4 last year. I have set out below the number and type of cases which have occurred since 1947.

YearParalyticNon-ParalyticTotal
19474913
1948279
1949369
195012315
1951268
1952235
1953819
1954134
1955121325

13 of the cases were non-paralytic (6 males, 7 females), whilst
12 of the cases were paralytic. A brief analysis of the paralytic