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62
During the year ten single cases of food poisoning were notified
and in two cases only was it possible to isolate the agent responsible
—i.e., Salmonella Typhi-murium.
In all cases of food poisoning, or suspected food poisoning,
full enquiries are made to ascertain the source of infection. If any
suspected food is available samples are submitted for bacteriological
examination.
No deaths were registered.
A great deal of publicity is being given to-day to the ravages
of food poisoning and there is little doubt that most sections of the
community are very much alive to its dangers. Unfortunately, it
is one of those conditions where the human element enters into a
great extent and some minor deviation from the best practice of
food hygiene can have disastrous consequences to a large number
of people. It is on account of this fact that our efforts to teach
food handlers, and they represent almost the whole population, to
handle food cleanly must be unending for it is only by constant
reminders that we can hope to maintain or improve the standard.
As far as this town is concerned, with only two cases confirmed
during the whole of 1954, we cannot complain, but it is as well to
remember that there were, in all probability, a much larger number
which never came to light. Efforts to build up our defences against
this illness are constantly being made by all possible means, but
ultimately we are in the hands of those whose task it is to prepare
and handle our food, and if we can impress upon them all the
importance of their work, we shall have made a great contribution
to eradicating another of those diseases which are all too prevalent
to-day.
DYSENTERY,
This disease, which now appears to have become endemic, is
normally of a very mild type and gives rise to more inconvenience
than serious ill-health. It is a very fair assumption that the disease
is more prevalent than the notified figures would indicate, as owing
to its extreme mildness, many sufferers probably never come for
medical attention. On the other hand, this very point tends to the
spread of the disease and makes its proper control a matter of
great difficulty. Only by the exercise of extreme care in personal
hygiene can this condition be mastered and it therefore resolves
itself into a problem of health education especially once again of
those responsible for our food.
PNEUMONIA.
The number of notifications of this illness were low. as is usual
in a year in which influenza was not prevalent.