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In November the Head Teacher of the Monteagle Infants' School
informed me that several children were away with "gastro-enteritis"
and that three had been admitted to hospital. It was immediately
apparent that school dinners were not to blame since many of the
children affected went home to lunch. Investigations revealed that one
of the pupils had had similar symptoms about three weeks previously,
but that these had quickly cleared and he was not taken to his doctor
Bacteriological investigations on this boy and on one of the cases
admitted to hospital revealed the germ of Sonne dysentery and general
practitioners were immediately notified. The remaining children in
the two classes affected were all swabbed, and seven further cases were
found. These were excluded from school until after treatment and two
negative laboratory reports, and no further cases occurred in the Infants'
Department.
Bacteriological investigations of the family contacts of known
cases revealed that both parents and an elder sister of one of the infant
school children were also affected. The elder sister, who attended the
Junior Girls' School, was excluded but unfortunately had spread
the infection by this time and an outbreak developed in the Junior
School involving a total of twenty-one children. The remaining members
of the affected classes were investigated and positives excluded from
school, and the outbreak appeared to be under control before the end
of the term. Four cases were also discovered amongst brothers and
sisters attending other schools, five cases in brother or sisters of
pre-school age and two further cases amongst parents.
The necessary advice concerning hand hygiene was given and an
emergency supply of paper towels was made available. I am most
grateful to the Head Teachers concerned for their willing co-operation,
despite the extra burden imposed upon them by the outbreak.
Reference is made later to your decision to ask Managing and
Governing bodies to consider the hand washing facilities in their
schools and to submit recommendations.
Tuberculosis
The follow-up of those who were helping in the rial of B.C.G
vaccine was continued during the year, facilities been made available
to the M.R.C. team at the Woodward Clinic. Although the final
results of this investigation will not be known for some years, the
Ministry of Health decided to approve an extension of present arrangements
so that this protection might be offered to all children between
the ages of 13 and 14. The vaccinations are to be carried out by the
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