British Department of Health and Social Security

About: British Department of Health and Social Security is a based out in . It is known for research contribution in the topics: Public health & Health care. The organization has 101 authors who have published 91 publications receiving 1864 citations.

An outbreak of Salmonella saint-paul infection associated with beansprouts.

Abstract: In March 1988, there was an outbreak of infection by a strain of Salmonella saint-paul with a distinctive antigenic marker. A total of 143 reports were received between 1 March and 7 June. Preliminary investigations suggested that raw beansprouts were a possible source of infection and a case-control study confirmed the association. S. saint-paul of the epidemic type was isolated from samples of beansprouts on retail sale in different cities in the United Kingdom and from mung bean seeds on the premises of the producer who was most strongly associated with cases. In addition, Salmonella virchow PT34 was isolated from samples of raw beansprouts and was subsequently associated with seven cases of infection. Four other serotypes of salmonella were also isolated from beansprouts. On 8 April the public were advised to boil beansprouts for 15 seconds before consumption, and the premises of the one producer associated with many cases were closed. As a result of these actions there was a significant decrease in the number of infections with S. saint-paul.

A survey of heights and weights of adults in Great Britain, 1980

Abstract: A survey of the heights and weights of a sample representative of the adult population of Great Britain aged 16 to 64 years was conducted in 1980. At the same time a questionnaire was administered to everyone in the sample so that sub-groups could be identified and their measurements compared. Tables of the heights and weights by sex and age are given, including a breakdown of heights by social class. The mean height of 20-30-year-old men was 175.7 cm and of 20-30-year-old women 161.7 cm. The difference in heights in these age groups between men in social class I/II and in class IV/V was about 3 cm, in women about 2 cm. Tables of weight for height for each age group and each sex are presented; average height, weight and body mass index are also provided for different regions of Great Britain. Persons living in Wales are shorter than others; those living in Scotland are the second shortest group. Persons living in the south of England are around 1 cm taller than those living in the north.