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moderately severe symptoms of diarrhoea and vomiting. A specimen of
faeces was obtained from each member of the family, but all were reported
negative.
The source of infection was not established as all meals consumed
by the two patients were eaten in common with some other members of the
family who remained unaffected.
(e) The last outbreak of this type involved a family of three
persons, comprising a man aged 55 years, his wife aged 45 years and the
wife's sister aged 50 years. All suffered symptoms of pain, diarrhoea,
vomiting, headache, fever, drowsiness and prostration. Faeces specimens
submitted were reported negative.
The family concerned were found to be food hygiene conscious and
no article of food consumed prior to onset appeared to be worthy of
suspicion. The possibility of other types of poisoning was investigated,
but nothing significant was found.
Single cases
In addition to the outbreaks referred to above, there were
thirty-four single cases of food poisoning notified. In nineteen of
these, no causative agent was identified, but in the remaining fifteen
cases, the identified agents were as follows s-
Agent Cases
Salmonella typhi-murium 12
Salmonella Stanleyville 1
Salmonella virchow 1
Salmonella heidelberg 1
Ten of the notified cases were admitted to hospital for
treatment. All of them were single cases in which the causative agent
was identified.
Salmonellosis - Cross infection in hospitals
Occasionally outbreaks of infection occur in hospitals due to
salmonella organisms. Such outbreaks arise sometimes where a symptomless
carrier has been admitted for treatment or where such a carrier is employed
in hospital. Although the causative agent is one normally associated
with food poisoning such outbreaks are not generally food-borne.
The point is dealt with in a recent Ministry of Health memorandum
on Food Poisoning and provision has been made for an annual return of such
cases as distinct from food-borne infections.
During 1957.two hospitals were affected with cross infection
due to salmonella typhi-murium. In the first instance, ten patients
were involved to an explosive outbreak which was quickly brought under
control. The source here was a symptomless carrier admitted for treatment.
In the second instance, eighteen cases were recorded over a period of
nine months, although these covered several small outbreaks. The
sources in this instance were mixed; one outbreak at least was probably
due to a symptomless carrier on the nursing staff whilst the others were
due to the admission of symptomless carriers for treatment of other
conditions.
INFECTIOUS DISEASE
Smallpox
No case of smallpox was notified in the borough during the
year 1957.