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TYPHOID 1949
There was a small outbreak of Typhoid Fever
in the Borough in the middle of the year.
Of the 26 cases admitted to hospital as
suspect cases of Typhoid Fever, 10 were subsequently
confirmed as suffering from the disease, one case
being fatal.
These patients were notified in the period
7th June to 6th July, and in all cases the date of
onset was within a period of 23 days in June.
All the cases were of the Vi phage type D1
with the exception of one case which was Vi phage
type E1 about which there was some doubt.
The great difficulty experienced in the
endeavour to trace the actual source of infection in
this outbreak was due to the fact that the first case
notified had actually been in hospital for an abdominal
operation, and previously had been under medical care
outside for some days before being sent in to the
hospital for the operation. There was also a case
notified who had been in hospital for a month and had
been admitted to hospital in the first case with a
suspected kidney disease.
Thorough investigations were made, including
the taking of specimens from all contacts and food
handlers at food premises coming under suspicion, and
the positioning of special absorbent pads in various
drains.
All methods failed to indicate the source
of the infection however, and it can only be assumed
that it was either:-
(i) Due to a carrier who was temporarily
in the district and then left.
(ii) That some particular consignment of
food, infected with Salmonella Typhi, had been
consumed in its entirety, and the source of infection
therefore ceased.
If the latter is the case, the opinion
was that the infection must have occurred at some
time during the first three weeks in May.