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As no source of infection was apparent, the investigations were further extended and specimens of blood,
faeces and urine were obtained from the management and staff of the firm where the patient worked.
Results were negative and the source of infection was never determined.
Of the paratyphoid cases, the first concerned a theatre nurse in a general hospital in the borough who
was admitted to an isolation hospital suffering from paratyphoid infection which was subsequently
confirmed. The date of onset of symptoms was given as 23rd August, although she was reported to have
been on duty on the 26th.
Medical practitioners of Islington patients and medical officers of health of patients residing in other
boroughs were informed where it was reported that their patients had passed through the theatre during the
period.
The source of infection was not finally determined, bacteriological examination of family and other close
contacts gave indeterminate results.
The next case referred to an adult female Islington resident who returned from a holiday in Turkey on
1st September 1970, became ill on the 8th September, and was admitted to an isolation hospital on the
same date. Paratyphoid "B" infection was subsequently confirmed. Bacteriological results of domiciliary
contacts all proved negative. Their medical practitioners were kept informed.
The third case referred to an adult female residing in Islington who returned from a holiday in North
Africa and Turkey on the 29th August, 1970. She was confirmed as suffering from paratyphoid "B" Phage
type "Taunton" and removed to an isolation hospital on 25th September.
The date of onset was reported as being 2nd September. It was ascertained that the patient was a school
teacher at an Islington school and that she was on duty until 23rd September. This was brought to the
notice of all medical practitioners, so that they could bear this in mind should any schoolchildren, etc.,
report significant symptoms within the following three weeks.
Finally, it was confirmed that her brother, resident in Ireland, who had accompanied her on the holiday
was also admitted to hospital suffering from paratyphoid.
The other references were for 48 contacts of typhoid and two contacts of paratyphoid all with
satisfactory conclusions.
DYSENTERY
There were one hundred and eighty-three cases notified and 'coming to knowledge' during the year. Of
these, one hundred and fifty-two proved positive whilst thirty-one were clinical cases with negative stools.
Roughly one-half of the positive cases occurred in June and July, with three day nurseries mainly
affected.

The notification rate of all forms of tuberculosis was 0.45 per 1,000 population as against 0.25 for the
whole country.
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