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45
Food Poisoning Outbreaks
There were seventeen cases of food poisoning in 1953 comprising
two family outbreaks which affected three members of
one family and five in the other, together with nine single cases.
The outbreak affecting three members in the same family
was caused by the classical type of food poisoning, Salmonella
Typhimurium, the first case arising in the son while returning
from a holiday in France and subsequently being transmitted to
his parents. The disease affected father and son very severely.
The other family outbreak was milder and was possibly due
to Staphylococcus Aureus which was found in two cases.
In the single cases the cause could not be discovered, as there
is usually insufficient evidence.
Encephalitis Lethargica
No case was notified during the year.
Erysipelas
Eleven cases were notified. Three cases were removed to
hospital.
Puerperal Pyrexia
Eleven cases were notified during the year.
Pneumonia
Twenty-seven cases of primary pneumonia were notified
during the year. The number of deaths from all forms of
pneumonia, some of which are not notifiable, was 25, of which
16 were males and 9 females.
Meningococcal Infections.
No case occurred during 1953.
Influenza
During the year eight deaths, of which two were males and
six females, were recorded. The previous year one death was
registered.