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Typhoid Fever
During the year 5 cases of typhoid fever occurred.
The first was a 6-year-old boy who had returned to this country after a holiday in
India and was admitted to hospital shortly afterwards. Investigation at his home
revealed that another 10 persons were living there, one of whom was employed in the
food trade. The usual exclusion measures were carried out and there were no further
cases. It seems likely that the infection was contracted abroad.
The second case was an 8-year-old boy, in which the source of infection was not
determined. No secondary case occurred however.
The third case was a 28-year-old man who was admitted to hospital shortly after
returning from a holiday in India. The patient was employed in the food trade and
accordingly his work contacts were excluded until it was considered they were not a
potential source of infection. No other cases occurred and again in this instance it
appears that the infection was contracted abroad.
The last two cases came from the same household, one being a 26-year-old
woman and the other a 14-year-old boy who were both admitted to hospital within a
few days of each other. On investigation it became apparent that the residents not
only of the household where the two patients lived, but also those of three houses in
the borough and one in an adjoining borough, would have to be considered close contacts
since the occupants were inter-related and there was frequent inter-visiting.
Nearly 100 contacts were traced and the usual control measures instituted, including
exclusion of 13 persons from work. Classmates of the 14-year-old boy and teachers
who spent a substantial part of their time with this class were not allowed to return
to school after the Christmas holidays until they were considered to be free from
infection. About half the class was cleared by the date the new term commenced, but
the return of some of the teachers was delayed as a number of them had dispersed to
various parts of the country for Christmas and communication was therefore difficult.
Specimens taken from contacts resulted in four of them being admitted to
hospital as suspected cases. Later tests, however, proved negative. There is little
doubt that the source of infection was a known carrier living in the infected household.
Whooping Cough
There were 131 cases notified during the year.
Full statistical information is set out in table 2 at the end of this report.
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