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7
Dysentery
The number of confirmed cases (113) was considerably more than in 1968 (33). On many occasions,
several members of one family were found to be infected. However, these were sporadic incidents, the various
families were not connected in any way and there was no evidence of a common source of infection. All
cases were followed up in the normal manner until free from infection.
Food Poisoning
Fifty confirmed cases and their contacts were dealt with during the year. Where food handlers were
involved they were excluded from work or given other duties. The number of confirmed cases increased
compared with last year (35) mainly due to an outbreak following a wedding reception in Cricklewood when
36 guests were affected, 17 of them being Brent residents. The causative organism was Salmonella enteritidis,
phage-type 8. It was not possible to identify the food concerned as none was left over for bacteriological
examination, but the suspected food was chicken.
An enteric infection occurred at the Kingsbury Maternity Hospital where one baby died as a result.
Twenty-one mothers and 20 babies were at risk. Three mothers and six babies were found to be symptomless
carriers. The causative organism was Salmonella Chester. Precautions were taken to prevent the spread of
the infection and the hospital was closed from the middle of January to the 20th February.
Measles
There was a decrease in the number of cases notified (970) compared with 1968 (1,367) and with
1967 (2,564). Measles vaccine was introduced in May 1968 and this probably accounts for the decrease in
the number of cases notified.
Poliomyelitis
There were no cases in the Borough this year.
Smallpox
There were no cases in the Borough, but 59 people were put under routine surveillance after arriving
from endemic areas abroad without valid vaccination certificates.
Typhoid and Paratyphoid Fever
One case of typhoid fever was confirmed. He was a man of 22 years who left an address in Brent
on the 8th May for a holiday in India. He returned on the 19th June and was admitted to the Willesden
General Hospital on the 21st June as a typical infective hepatitis case with jaundice. Between seven and ten
days later he developed a high pyrexia. Blood cultures were taken and as soon as organisms were discovered
he was placed on barrier nursing. When the organisms were identified as Salmonella typhi he was transferred
to Neasden Hospital. Contacts were kept under strict surveillance. There were no other cases in the
Borough but 36 persons were kept under routine surveillance after they had returned to the Borough from
endemic areas abroad or had been contacts of confirmed cases in other Boroughs.
There were no cases of paratyphoid fever.
Whooping Cough
There was a marked decrease in the number of confirmed cases (37) compared with last year (111).
Ophthalmia Neonatorum
There was no impairment of vision in the six confirmed cases.
Infective Jaundice
Details of the 33 cases notified as suffering from this disease were sent to the North London Blood
Transfusion Centre of the National Blood Transfusion Service. The information enables the Service to delete
the patient's name from the panel if he or she is a donor and to defer the call-up of close contacts for six
months. In addition, it may enable the Service to stop a recent donation from being used clinically or included
ia a pool of plasma.
Particular attention has been focused on the transmission of jaundice by the use of contaminated
syringes or needles by persons who administer drugs intravenously by self-injection, and the occurrence of
cases of jaundice has led to the detection of foci of drug addiction. When information is obtained by the Public
Health Inspectors that a person suffering from infective jaundice is a drug addict, the Mental Health Division
is informed.
HEALTH EDUCATION
The aim of health education is to help people strive towards better health and to regard a healthy,
happy mind and body as a valuable asset to living. The Department's health education programme is based
mainly on lectures illustrated by films, filmstrips and other visual aids.
Assistant medical officers, dental officers, health visitors, chiropodists and public health inspectors
gave 164 talks in 24 Brent schools. Outside groups accepted 56 talks, clubs and associations, and professional
bodies, 39. Mothercraft classes, which included films and instructional demonstrations numbering 478 were
held in clinics mostly by health visitors and midwives.