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(6)
Measles
There was an extensive epidemic of Measles during the first
half of the year, 810 cases being notified. There were no deaths
recorded from this disease.
Dysentery
There was a marked reduction in the number of cases of Sonne
Dysentery notified, only two cases during the year compared with
thirteen in the previous year. This may or may not be a true indication
of the prevalence of this infection since many of the cases are so mild
that bacteriological investigation is not considered to be necessary.
The illness is nevertheless responsible for significant loss of
school time among affected children and contacts, rigid methods of
control being necessary to prevent epidemic spread.
Food Poisoning
Twenty-four incidents of suspected food poisoning were reported
to the department and in only two cases was the diagnosis confirmed after
detailed investigation. One of these was found to be caused by staphylococcus
aureus and the other by salmonella typhi-murium. The resident
who was suffering from food poisoning due to staphylococcus aureus toxin
had eaten some infected cheese outside the district. In the case of
the patient suffering from Salmonella typhi-muriun infection it was
suspected he had consumed infected food at a London Exhibition where he
was employed. It was not, however, possible to confirm this bacteriologically.
Notification was received from another district concerning a
person who had visited the Borough and was later discovered to be
suffering from Para-typhoid fever, A thorough investigation was
carried out into the possibility of infection having been contracted in
the Borough, but no source was discovered.
A child from a Residential Home was admitted to a local Isolation
Hospital suffering from Measles and was found later to be infected with
Salmonella Typhi-murium. Investigation at the Home revealed no further
cases, but one case of Sonne Dysentery was discovered.
The necessity for scrupulous attention to the cleanliness and
soundness of food cannot be over emphasised. If the possibility of
food borne infection is to be minimised such matters as hand washing by
persons handling food and the absolute prohibition of re-heated meat
dishes are vitally important.