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Further cases continued to be reported, with no relationship to
this school, and altogether 100 cases were ascertained. No doubt,
however, many others suffered and did not seek medical advice, with
the result that they were never ascertained.
Samples of various foodstuffs were sent for analysis, but gave
negative results.
It would appear that there was some general infection throughout
the district, and it is possible that one or other of the patients
amongst the canteen staff, on return to duty, may have been a
temporary carrier and may have infected the school meals.
(e) Food Poisoning.
Eight cases were officially notified during the year, but there is
no doubt that there were many more, as a large number of patients
suffer only to a relatively slight degree, and, in consequence, do not
call in the asistance of a doctor, even though they may themselves
suspect food poisoning.
It should be constantly borne in mind by all concerned in the
handling, preparation, and storage of food, and particularly by those
who work in canteens, or who serve food to large numbers, that the
utmost care must be taken to obviate the risk of food poisoning.
This may occur, even in the best equipped of canteens, and prevention
is largely dependent on personal hygiene. The food itself need
not necessarily be bad, but it can act as a vehicle for the transference
of infection.
This was exemplified in two outbreaks at a school in the district
during the year. At the first occasion, staphylococcus pyogenes, an
organism commonly associated with food poisoning, was found in
some of the foodstuffs, and likewise, in the nasal swabs from some
of the canteen staff. Whilst it is appreciated that about forty per
cent of adults carry such an organism in the nose, nevertheless the
carrier rate in this case was about eighty per cent.
On the second occasion, at the same school, the foodstuffs
proved negative to organisms of the food poisoning group, and the
carrier rate, this time, amongst the canteen staff, was about thirtythree
per cent.
On both occasions it was not possible to state, with any degree
of accuracy, the true cause of the outbreak, but the danger of transmission
of infection was carefully pointed out to the staff, and
precautionary measures adopted.
(f) Measles.
Measles was in epidemic form, mainly during the months of
June and July. Altogether, during the year, there were 720 cases.
No deaths were recorded.