Report from the PHLS Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre.

Meningococcal meningitis received wide publicity during August, a case of human rabies was reported, and a further 25 cases of the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) were reported. In September a notable outbreak of salmonella food poisoning took place affecting nearly 200 delegates at a medical conference in Cardiff; a single case of salmonellosis was traced to contaminated enteral feed; overall, laboratory reports of salmonellosis showed an increase of nearly 2000 compared with the first three quarters of 1985. Lyme disease received publicity because of reports of cases from the New Forest, and a postal survey of dermatologists showed that there were at least 68 cases in Britain in the past five years. The incidence of the acquired immune deficiency syndrome continues to increase, and analysis of cases by date of presentation to medical care showed no evidence of any falling off in the rate of increase.