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There were three outbreaks during the year, two in Day Nurseries and one in a Residential
Nursery. In one of the Day Nurseries there were six cases in mid-June and all were cleared by
mid-July. In the other Day Nursery there were altogether 32 cases (including 10 resident outside
Camden) between the end of July and the early part of September.
The source of the outbreak in the Residential Nursery was traced to the mother of one of
the children whom she visited at the nursery. There were 32 cases (30 children and 2 staff) starting
in October and of these 3 children and both the members of the staff were admitted to hospital.
The outbreak was difficult to control, because the organisms were resistant to the majority of
antibiotics and although they were sensitive to neomycin the treatment with this preparation had
to be discontinued because of its side effects. The last case was only cleared during the early part
of December.
FOOD POISONING
Although only 33 cases of food poisoning were notified, there were many more people
affected. During 1965 three outbreaks of food poisoning were investigated.
The first, which occurred in an hotel in mid-September, affected 66 persons, mainly members
of the staff, out of 190 who consumed the mid-day meal. The onset of symptoms was generally 8-15
hours later, none of the cases was serious and all recovered within 24 hours. In only one case
was a pathogenic organism (in this case Clostridium welchii) found in a specimen sent for
examination and none of the food supplied for the meal was available for examination. No serious
defects were found in food handling or preparation procedure.
The second case investigated occurred in an old people's home in October, when after a
meal at 12.30 p.m., 21 people became ill between 3.30 p.m. and 8 p.m. Because of severe prostration
seven of these old people were admitted to hospital, but all recovered. The infecting organisms
were not identified, but staphylococcal food poisoning was suspected. It seemed probable that the
source of the infection was cooked ham which was served cold, but no organisms were isolated
from the portion which remained.
The third case occurred in a boys' home where 17 persons suffered from vomiting and
diarrhoea, the cases occurring over a period of six days. The infection appears to have originated
at a camp where some of the boys stayed over the week-end. The cooking and hygienic arrangements
at the home were excellent and no bacteriological cause was found for the outbreak.
MEASLES
Measles tends to be prevalent in alternate years with much smaller numbers in between.
During 1965 there were 1,279 cases which is more than in the previous year, but rather less than
would be expected in an "epidemic" year.
TUBERCULOSIS
During the year there were 147 new notifications of pulmonary tuberculosis and 19 of
non-pulmonary tuberculosis. These figures are similar to those of 1964 for the three former
metropolitan boroughs which now form Camden (160 and 16). Details of notifications are given in
tables 6 and 7 in the Appendix.
Whilst the number of deaths from tuberculosis has decreased consistently over the past
20 years, the notifications of new cases have only shown a drop during the past 6 or 7 years,a
rather slower reaction to improvements in treatment than is shown in other parts of the country.
It seems probable that the excellent facilities for diagnosis and the considerable movement of the
population in the London area are both factors in the slow reduction in the number of new cases.
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