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5
Food Poisoning.
There were two small outbreaks with a total of ten cases of whom
two were admitted to hospital.
As regards the outbreaks, the first consisted of a family of seven of
whom six suffered from diarrhoea and sickness within a few hours of
one another. Bacteriological examination of faecal specimens and
remnants of food which had been consumed, did not reveal any specific
food poisoning organism.
The second outbreak consisted of two persons in the same household,
who had similar symptoms to those described above. Again, bacterio'
logical investigation failed to establish the nature of the causal
organism.
The other two were isolated cases of food poisoning caused by an
organism known as Salmonella Typhimurium. One patient was an
adult the other a child attending a Day Nursery. The source of
infection could not be traced. Fortunately, there was no 6pread of
the disease and both made good recoveries.
Typhoid Fever.
One case occurred. The patient was an Air Stewardess and she
contracted the infection abroad — probably in Athens. She was
nursed for one week by two relatives when the nature of the illness
was unsuspected. These contacts were investigated and kept under
surveillance but fortunately neither was infected.
Paratyphoid Fever.
There were two cases. The first was a toy aged seven who was
admitted to a general hospital for investigation and was found to be
infected with Salmonella paratyphi B. Faecal specimens from other
members of the family were sent for examination, and it was found
that his sister aged four and a half years was also infected.
The source of infection could not be established. Both children
made uneventful recoveries.
IMMUNIZATION.
The district Medical Officer of Health is responsible for this form
of preventive medicine, but for the sake of convenience the work is
carried out at Surrey County Council Clinics, and the schemes are
administered from the Divisional Health Office, Sheen Road.