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13
Poliomyelitis
One case of paralytic poliomyelitis occurred in a pregnant woman of 25.1
The illness was mild and the paralysis was slight.
This patient was later delivered of a normal healthy child, and the
mother has completely recovered from her paralysis.
Seven suspected cases of poliomyelitis were notified, but the diagnosis
was amended as follows: -
Influenza 1 Meningism 1
Pyelitis 1 Meningo-encephalitis 1
Infective Polyneuritis 1 Catarrhal sore throat 1
Toxi c Po lyn eu ri ti s 1
In July 1954 the Ministry of Health issued a menorandum giving an outline
of what is known about poliomyelitis and its spread, and suggesting possible
methods of control. As a result of this a letter was prepared setting out
precautions to be observed by contacts. This was handed to contacts of
suspected cases when the premises in which the case had occurred were visited.
Food Poisoning
There were 31 cases of food poisoning notified, but only one was removed
to hospital.
Ten cases occurred in the first quarter of the year, twelve in the second
quarter, six in the third quarter and three in the fourth quarter.
These were all single cases - no outbreaks being recorded. The causal
organism was identified as Salmonella typhi murium in thirteen instances, but
no cause was discovered in the remaining eighteen cases.
Dysentery
There were 124 cases of dysentery notified during the year, of which 21
were located in hospital. The number of cases occurring must have been much
larger as illustrated by the fact that only a small fraction of the cases in
the school outbreak reported below were notified to this department.
Dysentery Outbreak in an infants' school
An outbreak of Sonne dysentery occurred in an infants' school inmediately
following the return of the children from the Easter holidays. The department
was informed of the outbreak at the end of the week, when there were 16
absentees from this cause - 4 of them had been admitted to hospital.