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TYPHOID CARRIER
In 1943 following a small outbreak of Typhoid Fever in
Bermondsey, involving 3 persons and resulting in 1 death, the source
of the infection was traced to a Mrs. A. M., a relative of those infected.
She received treatment in hospital for about three months but
was discharged as a chronic fæcal carrier of B. Typhosus.
Nothing further happened until December, 1954. It was
then found that Mrs. A. M., whose husband had recently died, had
been forced to go out to work to support herself and her son, aged 12
years, and that she had obtained employment at a restaurant.
As soon as this was discovered she was asked to attend St. Olave's
Hospital and I later received a report that B. Typhosus had been
isolated from her fæces.
It was therefore necessary to apply the provisions of the Public
Health (Infectious Disease) Regulations, 1953, and notices were sent
to Mrs. A. M., and to her employers prohibiting her employment in a
food trade for the time being. The Public Health Committee also
agreed to the payment of compensation for loss of earnings for a
limited period while Mrs. A. M., obtained work not concerned with
the handling of food. This was done under the provisions of Section
278 of the Public Health Act, 1936.
Shortly after this a cholecystogram, taken at St. Olave's Hospital,
showed that gall-stones were present and it was considered that if a
cholecystectomy was performed, it might eliminate the focus of
infection.
With the consent and co-operation of Mrs. A. M., a cholecystectomy
was performed and since then no typhoid bacilli have been
cultured from the stools and it is possible that the carrier state has
been remedied.