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Typhoid and Paratyphoid Fever
There were three confirmed cases of typhoid fever and one chronic carrier, and
also two convalescent cases arriving in the Borough. Two cases of paratyphoid 'A'
fever were also confirmed during the year. The circumstances of these eight cases
were as follows:-
Typhoid Fever
(a) An Islington housewife aged thirty four years was admitted to an isolation
hospital on the 10th February and transferred to a General Hospital on the 13th
February for treatment in respect of suspected urinary infection. Subsequently, it
was found that from tests made at the former hospital Salmonella Typhi were isolated
from blood and faeces cultures. Date of onset was considered to be about the 4th
February, 1966. The patient had resided in this country for twelve years, and had not
recently been abroad. No source of infection was discovered in spite of extensive
enquiries being carried out.
(b) A male Islington resident aged thirty seven years was admitted to Whittington
Hospital on the 11th October, 1966, and subsequently confirmed as suffering from
Typhoid Fever. He was transferred to Coppetts Wood Hospital on the 13th October, 1966.
A female aged thirty-three years living at the same address was admitted to St.
Ann's Hospital on the 12th October, 1966 with similar symptoms, and the diagnosis was
also confirmed as Typhoid Fever.
These patients had been on a continental coach tour which left England on the
4th September, 1966 and returned on the 19th September, 1966. There were twenty eight
people on the coach, and there had been reports of illness amongst other members of
the party whilst in Italy. The Medical Officers of Health of the areas in which the
other members of the coach party resided were also notified.
(c) An Islington housewife attended a hospital ante-natal clinic and on routine
examination. Salmonella Typhi was isolated from the urine culture. The patient had
resided in this country for three and a half years and had not been abroad since. No
symptoms were apparent, and she is probably a chronic typhoid carrier.
(d) A mother and daughter aged twenty five and one and a half years, residing in
Manchester were notified in early 1965 as cases of Typhoid Fever, subsequently
confirmed phage type E. 1. Later the grandmother was found to be a carrier of the
organism, having been reported to have suffered from the disease in British Guiana
nany years ago. After discharge from hospital, mother and daughter subsequently moved
to Islington.
paratyphoid 'A' Fever
(a) A male Indian aged twenty-nine years was admitted to a general hospital on the
27th August and was subsequently transferred to an isolation hospital as a case of
paratyphoid "A' fever, with a positive blood culture, onset being the 26th August. He
had arrived at London Airport on the 19th August, from Bombay. This patient stated he
had been in contact with a confirmed case in Bombay some ten days prior to onset. The
Senior Medical Officer, London Airport, was informed of this case.
(b) A male Islington resident aged fifty-five years was admitted to Whittington
Hospital on the 11th October, 1966 and subsequently diagnosed as suffering from
paratyphoid 'A' fever. He was transferred to Coppets Wood Hospital on the 19th
October. 1966. This patient had returned from Italy on the 26th September, 1966. He
had been on holiday visiting relatives.
In addition to the above, there was one suspected typhoid and one suspected
paratyphoid which were investigated, but were subsequently not confirmed.
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