[Report 1970] / Medical Officer of Health, Surrey County Council.

  • Surrey (England). County Council.
Date:
1970
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1970] / Medical Officer of Health, Surrey County Council. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    35/108 (page 33)
    Brucellosis The routine sampling of milk sold under the special designation “Untreated”, for the purpose of detecting the organism responsible for causing Brucellosis in human beings, was continued as in previous years. It is satisfactory to report that, although more samples were taken during 1970, the incidence of positive results, on culture, was limited to two herds only. Brucellosis, as a disease in humans, is caused by the organism “Brucella abortus” which causes such havoc amongst dairy herds when abortion “storms” result in many calves being born dead. The organism is excreted with the milk. Heat Treatment, by pasteurisation or some similar process, effectively destroys all harmful bacteria. If the milk is sold as “Untreated” however the organism may still be present and can cause chronic illness in human beings. The symptoms are rather like those of influenza and can therefore be easily missed’or neglected, especially in the farming communities, where most of the milk consumed is raw milk. There is, however, no risk of abortion in human beings being caused by drinking infected milk. A total of 518 samples of “Untreated” milk were taken for the detection of “brucella abortus” by bacteriolo¬ gical examination in the Public Health Laboratories at Guildford, Epsom and Brighton, to the Directors of which we are indebted for their co-operation, assistance and guidance so frequently and willingly given. These samples were representative of 37 herds from which raw milk is regularly sold to the public, the only treatment being that of cooling after milking. 35 samples out of 465 failed the Milk Ring Test, which is a preliminary screening test. These failures were followed up by more detailed sampling at the farms arising out of which 10 samples, from two herds, were found to contain the specific organism. The other Milk Ring Test failures can be attributed to the after effects of vaccination etc. The infected animals were identified and removed from the herd. Whilst investigations were proceeding all milk sold to the public was pasteurised, a notice requiring this to be done having been served by the Medical Officer of Health for the District. Godstone Rural District Council took the logical step of extending the routine sampling of “Untreated” milk to include checks on the raw milk being consumed by the families of dairy farm workers. This is usually “concessionary” milk excluded from the bulk supplies sent for pasteurisation from the several hundred dairy farms in the County. It is known that many people working in and around farms suffer from chronic brucellosis, either as a result of infection from contact with cows or from drinking infected milk. Of the 45 samples taken from these sources 9 Milk Ring Tests were positive. Further testing revealed two herds where there were infected animals. Steps are being taken to remove these from the herds. An increasing number of dairy farmers are joining the Government Eradication Scheme but progress is very slow. The replacement of infected animals “culled” from herds under test has been gravely hampered by the general shortage of sound milking cows as a result of the recent foot and mouth disease epidemic which wiped out so many long established prize herds. RURAL WATER SUPPLIES AND SEWERAGE ACT, 1944 Eight schemes, for the extension of existing services, to bring new or improved sewers and water supplies to groups of properties not previously so served, were submitted to the Highways and Bridges Committee by the County Engineer, supported by the observations of the County Medical Officer. In all cases, after suitable investiga¬ tion, the schemes were approved in principle and grants amounting to 35% of the net costs will eventually be made when the works are completed. These schemes, like most other civil engineering works, are increasingly costly but they bring the permanent benefits of a wholesome water supply and satisfactory foul drainage to those previously denied it. The schemes are summarised as follows: — Authority Scheme Estimated Cost £ Guildford R.D.C. Albury Park and Sherbourne - Water supply 10,500 Guildford R.D.C. East Clandon - Main drainage 46,000 Guildford R.D.C. Puttenham and Wanborough - Main drainage 143,000 Godstone R.D.C. Nutfield Marsh — Sewerage Scheme 24,000 Bagshot R.D.C. Woking U.D.C. Scotts Grove - Sewer extensions 134,000 Hambledon R.D.C. Keffold - Water Supply 18,100 Godstone R.D.C. Kemsley Road, Tatsfield - Water supply 2,000 Dorking and Horley R.D. Leith Hill - Water Supply 13,000