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11
Food Poisoning.
Only two isolated cases were notified. One was due to Salmonella
nashua and was contracted in Greece; the other was due to Salmonella
typhimurium and the source of this infection was not ascertained.
IMMUNIZATION.
The Schemes for immunizing children against diphtheria, whooping
cough, tetanus, and poliomyelitis continued as in previous years, and
the response from parents was very good indeed. Reference to
Section F will show how these schemes are progressing.
Smallpox.
By January a number of confirmed cases of smallpox had been
imported from Pakistan and this led to a considerably increased
demand for vaccination and re-vaccination. All travellers to the
Continent of Europe were required to have an Internationtal Certificate
showing recent vaccination and special facilities were provided
to cover the need.
Since that time the Minister of Health has advised that primary
vaccination in infancy is a valuable protective measure, but that the
safest time for that to be done is in the second year of life. This
policy has since been adopted.
Poliomyelitis.
During the year Oral vaccine became available which had been
manufactured and tested in this country. It has since almost completely
replaced the Salk-type vaccine which is given by injection.
It is readily accepted by infants and children and the great majority
of parents have complete confidence in its safety and efficacy.
It has the advantage of causing no unpleasant reactions and it gives
some protection so rapidly that it is a useful preventive procedure to
give a single dose to all contacts of a case of the disease.
Tetanus.
It has become routine now for all infants to be protected by
a "Triple" Antigen which gives protection against Diphtheria,
whooping Cough and Tetanus. In addition, parents of older children
readily accepting immunization against tetanus. The chief