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10
(remains of the meal) yielded a growth of Staph. Aureus
coagulase positive and the same organism was recovered
from the four opened tins from which the peas had been
served. This organism was also isolated from one of the
patients. Although 25 people were affected only 8 cases
were notified as many of the others had a slight illness and
did not report to their doctors.
(ii) The second outbreak occurred in a work's canteen about
three months after the first. About 24 to 30 people were
affected, but in all cases the illness was very slight and of
short duration. None of the people reported for medical
advice and as all of the cases became ill after leaving work
it was not notified to the doctor of the staff until the
following morning. No cases were, therefore, notified.
No specimen meal was available, but a portion of the
meat cooked for the meal and a tin of peas of a similar
brand to those served, were sent for laboratory examination
but yielded negative results. It was not possible to
prove the cause of the outbreak, but it is probable that it
was caused by processed peas, as the brand used was similar
to that which caused the previous outbreak.
Maternal Mortality
There were no maternal deaths recorded during the year.
Infant Mortality Rate
The number of deaths of infants under one year was 9 as compared
with 5 for the previous year.
The infant mortality rate for this area is 20.4 per 1,000 live
births as compared with 23.1 for England and Wales.
IMMUNISATION AND VACCINATION
Diphtheria and Whooping Cough — Immunisation was continued
throughout the year. The combined vaccine was used during the
winter months, but during the summer months the separate whooping
cough and diphtheria vaccines were used. This followed a recommendation
from the Ministry of Health that the separate vaccines were less
likely to provoke paralytic poliomyelitis. The immunisation in each
case is started when the child is three months old.
Smallpox — Vaccination was continued throughout the year, usually
following immunisation against diphtheria and whooping cough at
the age of six months.