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12
Typhoid Fever Outbreak, 1963.—During the latter part of the
year there was a minor outbreak of typhoid fever in the borough
which, fortunately, was confined to one house. The four persons
infected (2 adult females and 2 children) were Wcit Indians who had
been living in this country for approximately one year. All cases
were-treated in hospital, three being diagnosed as clinical cases and
the other was a "carrier" and was presumed to be the source of the
outbreak.
Investigations by officers of my department involved tracing
numerous contacts, arranging the disinfection of the household
concerned and obtaining bacteriological specimens from the other
occupants thereof. Specimens were also obtained from 35 contacts
at a day nursery situated in the borough.
A toy factory in the borough where the "carrier" had worked,
was also disinfected and some 200 soft toys manufactured there were
disinfected at the Council's Disinfecting Station. In addition,
bacteriological specimens were obtained from 23 of the factory
employees.
The other adult case was employed at a large food factory
located outside the borough. The company medical officer of the
firm arranged for the disinfection of part of the factory premises and
also for the collection and examination of bacteriological specimens
from employee contacts.
All the cases made a satisfactory recovery and were discharged
from hospital before the end of the year and then placed under the
surveillance of my department.