View report page

TYPHOID FEVER. Two cases of typhoid fever were notified during the year. One
case, affecting a 23 year old male, was almost certainly acquired whilst the patient was
visiting Spain. The source of infection for the other case, which was a female of 62,
was not definately established, though there was some evidence to suggest that the
infection might have been acquired abroad.
ACUTE POLIOMYELITIS. Two cases of paralytic poliomyelitis were notified during the
year. None of the cases were fatal. Poliomyelitis virus type I was isolated from the
stools of one of the patients, a boy of 2½ years.
DYSENTERY. One hundred and eighty-nine cases of dysentery were notified in 1959,
compared with 133 cases in the previous year. The continuing rise in the incidence of
notified cases of dysentery is a cause of considerable concern.
MENINGOCOCCAL INFECTION. Two cases of meningococcal meningitis were reported In the
year. These cases appear to have been Isolated, and the source of infection was not
identified.
ACUTE ENCEPHALITIS. One case of encephalitis was notified in the first quarter of
1959.
FOOD POISONING. In accordance with Ministry of Health Circular 46/49, the following
Information was supplied.
Annual Return of Food Poisoning Notifications for the year 1959
Food Poisoning Notifications (Corrected)
1. 1st Quarter 2nd Quarter 3rd Quarter 4th Quarter
Jan/March April/June July/September Oct/December TOTAL
2 1 11 4 18
2. Outbreaks due to Identified Agents
Total Outbreaks Total Cases
3 7 (Salmonella Typhi-murium 2
( „ Thompson 2
( „ Newport 3
3- Outbreaks of Undiscovered Cause
Total Outbreaks Total Cases
4. Single Cases
Agents Identified Unknown Cause
11
(Salmonella Organisms)
It is not felt that these figures give a true picture of the incidents of food
poisoning in West Ham.
84