View report page

Food Poisoning.
An outbreak of food poisoning occurred at a students' hostel, 9
persons being affected. Symptoms were moderately severe but of short
duration. Enquiries revealed that all those taken ill had eaten a reheated
fish dish of kedgeree from which an organism was isolated. A
similar organism, a staphylococcus was found in a swab taken from
the nose of the cook and there is little doubt that this was the cause
of the outbreak. The fish in question had been cooked on the previous
day and allowed to cool slowly being re-heated on the following
morning, this process causing an ideal breeding ground for germs.
A further outbreak, in which approximately 30 persons were affected,
took place in a children's home. Symptoms were mild and did not
last long. Here the cause was believed to be the eating of partially
cooked and re-heated meat which had become contaminated.
In my report for last year I reported on an outbreak of food poisoning
in a school due to the consumption of re-heated food. It is
proving almost impossible to impress upon those responsible for the
running of canteens the danger to health arising from this practice.
National Assistance Act, Compulsory Removal to Hospital.
For the first time on record it was necessary to make application to
a Justice of the Peace under Section 47 of the National Assistance Act;
for the compulsory removal to hospital of an elderly man in urgent
need of care and attention and who refused to enter hospital voluntarily.
Fortunately when the ambulance arrived he went without
demur and caused no further trouble.
My thanks are due to the Chief Public Health Inspector and to the
staff of the department for their work throughout the year.
In conclusion, I am indebted to the Chairman and Members of the
Public Health Committee for their unfailing support.
I have the honour to be,
Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Your obedient Servant,
F. G. BROWN. T.D., M.B., B.Ch, D.P:H:
4