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REPORT ON FOOD POISONING OUTBREAK
1. Food causing outbreak Pastry - confectionery and bread
Agent causing outbreak Salmonella-typhi-murium
Phage Type I (a)
2. Cases forming outbreak, which occurred from 23rd June to 9th July, 1963
Notified - 33
Total 37
Otherwise ascertained - 4*
Fatal - None
(*One child became ill at its home in Radlett, Herts, and was subsequently
diagnosed 'there' as suffering from Salmonella typhi-murium food poisoning.
The child attends a Cripples' School in Edmonton where other cases arose.)
3. Clinical features
Average interval ingestion to onset (hours)
- Impossible to say with accuracy.
Main symptoms
In some, headache, fever, nausea, abdominal pains and diarrhoea.
In others, fever and diarrhoea.
Still others had fever, malaise, weakness in the limbs, diarrhoea
and abdominal pains.
Severity of Illness
Half of the patients were severely ill.
An infant of 11 months was admitted to hospital with pyrexia and
nuchal rigidity.
A seven year old boy became delirious.
Duration of illness - One week on the average
4. Results of Laboratory Investigations (Summary)
Cases - Faeces positive for Salmonella typhi-murium Phage 1 (a) in
all cases
Food Samples
Specimen Eggs - as below Date of Arrival 4.7.63
Date of Report 8.7.63