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Clinically the attack of diarrhoea was generally mild, lasting forty-eight
hours, and in only one case (the child admitted to hospital) was blood
found in the motions.
As far as could be ascertained the outbreak concerned only those who
had taken school meals. No positive conclusion could however be drawn
from the facts elicited since symptoms first arose on Sunday, November
25th, though the school mid-day meal on Friday, November 23rd, was
suspect. By the time the public health department was first notified on
Monday, November 26th, no remains of the meal were available for
laboratory analysis. A striking feature of the outbreak was the apparent
immunity of the kitchen staff who had exactly the same food as the pupils
and teaching staff.
In all, some 800 specimens of faeces were examined in Hornsey alone,
and throughout the extensive investigations the utmost co-operation was
given by all concerned in the endeavour to trace the origin of the outbreak.
FOOD POISONING
Fourteen cases were notified during the year. Of the confirmed cases.
five were due to salmonella typhi-murium and three to salmonella
enteriditis. In six cases the cause was said to be unknown. Two cases
were admitted to hospital as non-specific enteritis.
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