View report page

60
FOOD POISONING
Authority was given to arrange for all Medical Practitioners
with surgeries in the Borough to be supplied with a copy of Ministry
of Health Memorandum 188/Med. on the subject of steps to be
taken in the investigation of food poisoning and the supply of
information in connection therewith.
Twenty-eight cases were notified and in addition ten were
"ascertained", i.e., became known otherwise than by notification
and mostly on following up notified cases. None was fatal.
There were three small "outbreaks" i.e., two familial with
seven and three cases respectively, of which the former was due to
coagulase positive staphylococcus and the latter to an unknown
agent. In neither case could the food at fault be determined.
The third "outbreak" was due to Cl.welchii Type 1 and on
investigating the notified case, six others were found, all of whom
were infected at a works' canteen where the food had been reheated.
Single cases totalled twenty notified and one ascertained.
The majority of the infections were due to salmonellae, nine
being typhi murium. Food suspected consisted of sausages (5),
pork (2), fish or paste (3) and meat (2).
ANNUAL RETURN OF FOOD POISONING
1. Local Authority : Borough of Walthamstow. Year: 1958.
2. (a) Food Poisoning Notifications (Corrected) as Returned to
Registrar General.
1st Quarter 2nd Quarter 3rd Quarter 4th Quarter Total
12 3 9 4 28
(b) Cases otherwise Ascertained.
1st Quarter 2nd Quarter 3rd Quarter 4th Quarter Total
3 7 — — 10
(c) Fatal Cases.
1st Quarter 2nd Quarter 3rd Quarter 4th Quarter Total
— — — — Nil