View report page

Whooping Cough
The number of notified cases during the year was 29. No deaths were
attributed to the disease. 1 case was admitted to hospital for 41 days.
Poliomyelitis
There was only one case of poliomyelitis notified (a boy of 5 years of age) .
It was of the paralytic type.
Measles
There were 543 notifications of measles during the year. 20 cases were
removed to hospital with complications. There were no deaths.
Dysentery
A total of 49 cases were notified. Of these 5 cases were admitted to
hospital.
Food Poisoning
There were 29 notified cases, of which 5 were admitted to hospital. In
four cases the causal organism was identified as salmonella typhimurium. The
cases were unconnected and scattered throughout the year.
A small outbreak of food poisoning occurred at the Town Hall canteen,
affecting 37 persons. The symptoms were comparatively mild and the attack was
of short duration. It was confirmed as being caused by Bacillus Welchii infection
of stewed steak. The reason why this organism multiplied in the meat was
probably due to the lack of rapid cooling after the cooking of the meat; and when
due to be served the lack of rapid reheating. This type of food poisoning can
be easily avoided by not allowing meat to remain for any length of time at intermediate
temp eratures namely between 50° F and 145º F.