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Though new drugs have markedly improved the
outlook in this disease the loss of working time can
still be serious. There should be no delay in seeking
investigation and treatment and the mass x-ray unit
at West Middlesex Hospital is available to the public
without appointment.
Food Poisoning
Fifty cases of suspected food poisoning were
notified but after investigation only 24 were confirmed
and of these 24 cases a bacterial cause was
identified in eight. The investigation of individual
cases or small family outbreaks of gastro-enteritis is
time consuming and only too often no definite
evidence is forthcoming to show that the infection is
food borne.
On 1st March information was received from a
large store that many of the staff were suffering from
suspected food poisoning. It transpired that 17 had
been ill during the weekend and a further eight cases
had developed. The onsets of illness were as follows—
27th February, 5; 28th February, 6; 1st March,9;
2nd March, 2; 3rd March 2 and 4th March, 1. The
symptoms included nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea,
abdominal pain, headache and dizziness alone or in
various combinations. A detailed study of the food
consumed in the canteen by the affected persons failed
to pin-point any individual item and no remains of
the food were available for bacteriological investigation.
The conditions in the kitchen and canteen were
excellent, the equipment in good condition and clean
and the hygiene of the premises and staff was well
supervised. The illness was fairly evenly distributed
among all sections of the staff and the staff records,
supplemented by further enquiries revealed no recent
gastro-intestinal illness. Faecal specimens were
obtained from all the sufferers and 57 other staff and
a total of 103 specimens were sent to the laboratory.
All were negative except for three first specimens
from which heat resistant cl. welchii was isolated. This
germ is well known as a cause of food poisoning but
the finding of it in these first specimens was finally
considered to be co-incidental because (a) one of the
persons concerned had not been at the store on the
27th and 28th February (b) one had been at the store
on 28th February only (c) none of the three was
engaged in the handling of food (d) two further faecal
specimens from each were negative and (e) no
re-heated food had been served. The wide spread of
onset among those affected, the high prevalence of
headache and vomiting rather than diarrhoea and
negative bacteriological findings among the food
handlers did not support a diagnosis of food poisoning.
It was concluded that this was a gastro-intestinal
infection of unknown origin.
A pleasing feature of the investigation was the help
and co-operation given willingly by the management
and staff.
Fever Hospital
The borough is served by the South Middlesex
Hospital but on occasion accommodation in other
fever hospitals may be used. During the year 180
patients from the borough were admitted as suffering
from or suspected to be suffering from infectious
disease. Close contact is maintained between the
hospital and the Department of Health so that any
necessary action can be taken without delay.
Disinfection
Where necessary, disinfection of rooms is carried
out by the Department. During the year 21 rooms
were disinfected and three sets of bedding were
destroyed. Nine lots of clothing were disinfected
before being sent abroad.
Venereal Disease
The nearest hospitals with venereal disease clinics
are West Middlesex, Central Middlesex, Hillingdon
and West London Hospitals. Attached to most
venereal disease clinics is a social worker who gives
assistance with the social problems arising from these
diseases and most clinics also make efforts to trace
and secure treatment for contacts. Throughout the
country the incidence of venereal disease is on the
increase which is as much a social as a medical
problem.
Vaccination and Immunisation Section 26
Poliomyelitis
The introduction of sabin vaccine that can be given
by mouth has greatly reduced the work involved in
protecting children against poliomyelitis. The Salk
vaccine, given by injection, is still available to doctors
who prefer to use it. During the year 3,141 children
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