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25
Typhoid and Paratyphoid Fever
There was an unusual number of enteric fever notifications during the year One
was a case of typhoid fever but the remainder, 13 confirmed cases were paratyphoid
(infection with salmonella typhi B).
A five-months-old infant admitted to hospital was found to be suffering from this
infection and examination of contacts disclosed that the father was a carrier of the same
germ He was engaged in the sale of confectionery and ice cream and was excluded from
carrying out such work by notice served under the Public Health (Infectious Diseases)
Regulations 1953 He continued to be excluded until negative stool specimens were obtained.
Another four-months-old infant, also suffering from this infection was found to be
associated with three adult carriers, including the child's mother.
Two other adult cases were resident in the same house and the remainder were isolated
cases occurring in adults.
The original source of infection was not traceable in any of the reported cases or
discovered carriers. The typhoid fever case was a ten year-old girl of Italian origin who
had recently visited Italy and possibly contracted the infection there Pour of the contacts
of this case were food handlers working in other areas and the respective Medical Officers of
Health were informed for appropriate action to be taken.
Dysentery
The incidence of dysentery in 1959, with under 400 cases was considerably lower than in
1958, when there were over 1,000 cases. The majority of the dysentery cases during the year
were isolated or comprised small family or domiciliary outbreaks with relatively small groups
in day nurseries and a Welfare Home. It will be seen from the table on page 26 that approximately
one-third of those affected were under the age of five years and another third of school age
Ten cases were found to be employed as food handlers and another group of contacts were engaged
as food handlers. Supervision and exclusion measures were instituted as necessary.