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DIPHTHERIA
I am pleased to report once again that no confirmed case of
Diphtheria occurred in the Borough during the year. Of the six
suspected cases which were removed to hospital for observation,
three were Glandular Fever, two Tonsillitis; and the sixth patient
was a woman who was thought to be a Diphtheria carrier, but all
throat and nose swabs proved negative.
FOOD POISONING
There were no reported outbreaks of Food Poisoning during
the year. Altogether there were 13 notified cases, but only
three single cases were confirmed, the causal organisms being
identified as Salmonella Typhimurium in two patients, and one of
Enteritidis (Jena variety).
In one case where the illness was fairly severe, pease
pudding purchased from a butcher's store outside the Borough and
which had been served by the Assistant in greaseproof paper and
then wrapped in newspaper, was the food suspected. Unfortunately,
it was not possible to obtain specimens of this food for examination,,
Jellied eels were suspected in the second case of Salmonella
Typhimurium, but owing to the delay in the patient seeing his Doctor
it was not possible for the Department to make a full investigation.
DYSENTERY
Of the 31 cases originally notified, ten were subsequently
confirmed and found to be cases of Sonne Dysentery.
Three of the confirmed cases were in hospital, and a further
seven suspected cases were removed to hospital. Numerous specimens
were taken, and the positive cases were excluded from work or school
as appropriate under the care of their own Doctors until at least
two consecutive negative specimens had been produced.
Sixteen of the individual suspected cases were residents at
the Plumstead Rest Centre, and ten of these were later confirmed
as suffering from Measles.
The majority of the non-confirmed cases, which mainly concerned
two or three members of several different families, were found to have
Gastro Enteritis.
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