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have been staphylococcus aureus as this organism was found, on
examination, in a similar packet of sausages to those eaten by the
patient, but this diagnosis could not be definitely confirmed because the
patient was not prepared to submit to bacteriological investigation.
A further case concerned a girl of 13 years who was admitted to
hospital with symptoms of food poisoning and was found to be suffering
from an infection due to salmonella typhi-murium. The remainder of
the family submitted specimens of faeces for examination but were all
found to be quite negative. The origin of the infection was not discovered.
The majority of the remaining 6 single cases were only slightly
affected and in no case where bacteriological investigation was carried
out was it possible to identify specific organisms likely to have caused
the illness.
PNEUMONIA.
Thirty-four cases of acute primary or influenzal pneumonia were
notified during the year, compared with 21 in 1955 and 18 in 1954.
The total number of deaths from all forms of the disease during the year
was 23 compared with 18 in 1955.
WHOOPING COUGH.
Eighty-two cases were notified during the year compared with 139,
74, 183 and 112 in the last four years. There were no deaths.
CERTIFICATES OF VACCINATION AND INOCULATION.
In order to prevent the spread of infectious diseases, certain
countries require that visitors should be vaccinated or inoculated against
specified diseases.
International certificates have been prescribed for smallpox, yellow
fever and cholera. When completed by the medical practitioner, the
certificate must be authenticated by the Medical Officer of Health.
During the year, 452 requests were received from residents for
certificates of vaccination or inoculation to be authenticated for the
purpose of travel abroad.
VACCINATION.
Vaccination against smallpox is no longer compulsory. The vaccination
Acts, 1867 to 1907 were repealed by the National Health Service
Act, 1946.
During the year the following vaccinations were carried out in the
district:—
Primary vaccinations 446
Re-vaccinations 43
WHOOPING COUGH IMMUNISATION.
The following figures show the number of children immunised and
those who received reinforcing doses during the year (this includes those
37