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50
POLIOMYELITIS
Twenty-two cases of poliomyelitis were notified during 1957,
one being fatal and four being non-paralytic. This followed a very
light incidence during 1956 when only three cases were notified,
one each in February, August and November. Notifications in
1957 continued steadily throughout the year with a break between
the beginning of March and the end of July and with a peak
incidence of eight cases notified in August. The 22 cases represent
an incidence of 19 per 100,000 which is relatively light compared
with the experience of the worst areas in the country since at
the end of the year there were seven sanitary districts with rates
over 100 and ranging up to 179 per 100,000 population. Eighteen
were paralytic on notification. There was complete recovery in
three cases and major disability only in one case.
Details of age, sex, ward and condition on discharge are given
in the table on page 49.
Type I virus was grown in four cases and the same virus in the
sister of a fifth case. One case occurred at each of the two Day
Nurseries but there was no spread.
Case 16 illustrates the successful use of gamma globulin in
protecting an expectant mother and later her baby.
There was complete recovery in eight cases.
FOOD POISONING
Thirty-nine cases of food poisoning were notified by general
practitioners during the year, but 5 were not confirmed, leaving a
nett total of 34. The large majority (28) were in the third quarter.
In all there were seven outbreaks, five of which were due to
identified agents, Salmonellae in two, Staphylococci or Toxin in
three. In addition there were 34 further cases "ascertained"
during the course of investigation into these outbreaks.
The first outbreak occurred in May-5 cases in one family-all
of whom had eaten re-heated pork chops. No agent was identified.
The second affected only 5 pupils out of some 267 at risk at the
canteen of a Higher Education Institution. Doughnuts were
suspected and the agent was probably a toxin.
The third outbreak included at least 38 notified and ascertained
cases due to Salmonella typhi murim out of 483 at risk who had
eaten school meals from a kitchen supplying three departments. The
symptoms were mild to moderate, but four were admitted to
hospital, some as cases of appendicitis. Of 29 food handlers, 18
were ultimately found to be infected. The outbreak is very fully
described in the report of the Borough School Medical Officer and