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school (Holy Cross). The Holy Cross child and 2 of the others were
affected within the same short period of five days which covered the
limits of the Hostel outbreak„
The characteristic attack appeared to consist of violent vomiting,
sometimes accompanied by headache and abdominal pain but preceded by
nausea and seldom followed by diarrhoea. Although there were a few
cases of dysentery occurring in the schools at that time, the description
of attacks was such that it was fairly easy to pick out the
few dysentery cases from the big majority of others and, so far as
stool investigations could be carried out, the results confirmed the
histories given in a remarkable manner, no pathogens being found in the
vomiting cases. All the Fulham Hostel inmates provided specimens for
stool examination and all were negative.
Stool investigations of all school catering staff showed that they
were all free from pathogens. None of these had been ill and in any
case a number of children affected were not eating school dinners; also
an incidence spread over two weeks is against a form of food infection.
Each family at the Hostel prepares independent meals so there was no
question of food poisoning arising.
Other investigations carried out at the Sulivan School and the
Fulham Borough Council Hostel, included the water, milk, etc.
Although the nature of the attacks of vomiting followed the usual
pattern and the onset was frequently during school hours, many cases
occurred "in the night" as usually described. The schools involved
were Primary ones, so that the age range of those attacked was 5 - H
years, both boys and girls affected, but adult school staff were also
attacked, as were parents and infants at the Borough Hostel. There
is, of course, no proof that the Holy Cross outbreak and the Hostel
outbreak were connected with that occurring amongst the Sulivan School
and their "guest" school, but the fact that there were contacts in
each instance is strongly suggestive.
EXCLUSION FROM WORK OF CONTACTS OF INFECTIOUS DISEASE
By regulations made under the National Insurance Act of 1946. a
certificate can be issued in any case where the Medical Officer of
Health considers it advisable that a person should be excluded from
work» This is usually done where a person is suspected of being a
"carrier" of a disease, or has been in contact with a disease, and
where the person, because of the nature of his/her occupation, is
liable to transmit the diseases (e.g. a food handler). The granting
of such a certificate enables the person affected to claim sickness
benefit. One certificate was issued during the year.