View report page

47
SMALLPOX
No notification of this disease was received.
ENTERIC FEVER
On case of typhoid fever—Vi-phage type A was notified from
St. Ann's Hospital in August. The patient had returned from
holiday in Italy. The source of infection was not definitely traced,
but may have been abroad.
Bacillary Dysentry (Sonne)
A total of 159 cases of bacillary dysentery was notified. Early
in February a Head Teacher reported two or three cases of diarrhoea
in a junior department. The school was visited by Medical and
Sanitary Staff and special facilities were made available to enable
the children to wash during the severe "freeze-up". Paper towels
and howls were supplied and the caretaker received special instructions
in regard to disinfection of lavatory seats, chains and door
handles. Absentees were visited daily by the School Nurses and
rectal swabs taken. Local doctors were circularised and asked to
co-operate in the taking of rectal swabs and this was willingly done.
The outbreak lasted till the end of March when 42 cases had
been notified. There were also 11 cases notified from the adjoining
Infants Department and from 15 other schools, a total of 54 cases
was notified during the period from February to 7th September.
Public Health (Infectious Diseases) Regulations, 1927
Part-compensation continued to be paid in conjunction with
an adjoining authority to a chronic carrier, in order to prevent her
from following her occupation as a cook. The carrier is now 74
years old and for some years was employed by the other authority
as a convenience attendant. After retirement, she claimed that
she was still physically fit and able to work as a cook. For this
reason, part-time compensation continues to be paid.
FOOD POISONING
The following information is in the form required by the
Ministry of Health:—
1. Local Authority—Walthamstow. Year 1954.