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21
Dysentery
Upon receipt of information from the Divisional Medical Officer that a number
of children attending a County Council school in the Borough were suffering from
enteritis or diarrhoea, domiciliary visiting was carried out in conjunction with
Divisional staff, and it became apparent that the symptoms were due to a fairly
widespread infection with Sonne dysentery. Arrangements were made with the
Head Teacher for exclusion of children with recent symptoms, and they were
followed up at home by this Department's visitors, when family and household
contacts were also enquired into. A considerable number of specimens were
forwarded to the Public Health Laboratory, County Hall, and confirmation of
Sonne dysentery was obtained in the majority of cases.
Although most of the cases occurred in children attending one school, a few
children attending other schools were affected, as were some adults and children
under school age. It was not possible to ascertain how the infection arose. The
School Meals Service was not responsible for the spread, but full precautions were
taken in regard to kitchen staff in order to check and avoid such possible mode of
spread. Sanitary accommodation at the school was of a good standard, but in
conjunction with the London County Council Health Department special issues of
disinfectant were distributed for use in the sanitary annexes by the caretaker staff of
the school, under instruction.
54 children were affected at the school mentioned, together with one teacher
and one canteen worker. 16 children at three other schools were also found to be
suffering from Sonne dysentery.