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CLEAN FOOD CAMPAIGN.
There was only one notified case of food poisoning in the
Borough during the year, but two outbreaks of intestinal
disturbance attributable to food were investigated by the staff
of the Department because cf reports made by the School Meals
Organiser in one case and as a result of a telephone message
from an Engineering Repair Shop in the other.
Outbreak (1).
At the School 64 teachers and pupils were affected with,
symptoms of colic, vomiting and diarrhoea commencing 2—12
hours after a mid-day meal on two separate occasions at five
days' interval. The symptoms cleared up in every case within
24 hours. The school kitchen was visited and the food handlers
inspected. A though no specific organisms were traced and no
source of infection certain, improvements in the preparation and
handling of food and in the methods of washing up were recommended
and obtained and no further cases were reported.
Outbreak (2).
This outbreak followed a meal at a works canteen. Seven
persons were affected with symptoms of colic and diarrhoea
commencing ½ to 2 hours after the meal. The only food that had
been eaten by all the patients w as stewed lamb and the remainder
of this was seized and subjected to bacteriological examination.
Staphylococcus Aureus was isolated but the source of infection did
not appear to be in the Works kitchen and no further trouble arose.
Propaganda concerning clean food was maintained by
personal talks from members of the staff of the Health Department,
and by poster propaganda concerning protection from flies,
the covering of food, and other topical and seasonal subjects.
Commencement w as made on the survey of the whole of the
catering establishments within the Borough and it is hoped that
with an increase in the staff of the department this work may be
completed during 1950.
It is anticipated that the adoption of Bye-Laws by the
Borough Council on the lines of the "Eye-Laws relating to the
Handling, Wrapping and Delivery of Food and the Sale of Food
in the Open Air", issued by the Ministry of Food, will strengthen
the hands of the Public Health Department Staff in its endeavours
to secure hygienic handling of all food.
GENERAL HEALTH PROPAGANDA
During the year continuous propaganda was carried out bv
means of poster displays, personal talks to small groups, and
lectures to clubs and youth groups. A showing of the Poliomyelitis
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