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10
Dysentery.
Six cases of dysentery were notified but in four instances the
causal organisms were not identified. The other two cases were due
to Shigella sonnei which is a dysentery organism widespread through'
out the country.
There was no connection between any of the cases and no outbreak
of this disease resulted.
Food Poisoning.
On the 29th April, 1960 a general practitioner informed the
Health Department that the wife of the proprietor of a local public
house was suffering from food poisoning, and that culture of a specimen
had grown an organism of the Salmonella group.
Enquiries revealed that she had developed symptoms of gastroenteritis
on the 25 th April and that her husband had been similarly
affected on the 23rd April. There was a daughter who had had similar
symptoms, a son and four daily staff of whom two had had symptoms.
It seemed probable that all who had had symptoms were infected
with the Salmonella organism, and that those who were symptomless
might well be carrying the germ.
Apart from the sale of drinks, about 80 meals were served daily
to the public, and quantities of sandwiches were sold over the counter.
The situation was potentially dangerous with a considerable outbreak
of food poisoning as a possibility. Exclusion of all patients and contacts
would have closed the house, and since the organism had already
been present more than six days before notification, it seemed unreasonable
to forbid the sale of all food.
Examination of specimens from the entire family and staff confirmed
that everyone was infected with Salmonella Anatum.
A strict routine of hygiene was commenced at once, and the sale
of food was restricted entirely to freshly cooked meat and vegetables.
Re-heated roasts, cold meat and sandwiches were stopped. On the
6th May information was received from Wandsworth Public Health
Department that a man living there had eaten at this public house on
28th April, 1960 and was infected with a Salmonella organism. This
was the first secondary case, and fortunately no further such cases
came to our notice. Strict precautions were maintained until all
patients and carriers were negative and no further trouble arose.
Smallpox.
On 7th October, 1960 I was informed that a Dutchman had
flown into London Airport on 3rd October and had been found to
be suffering from Smallpox on 5th October. All passengers on the