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examined. It still remains a fact, however, that the vast majority
of children affected consumed tinned salmon during the mid-day
meal on Thursday, September 11th, either in its raw state or in the
form of a baked pie, and that no children who consumed the alternative
dish, i.e. cheese, during the same mid-day meal, were affected
within 48 hours of having eaten this meal. This is the only circumstance
which associates tinned salmon with the outbreak.
The possibility of explosive nausea and vomiting having been
the cause of the outbreak was considered. The comparatively slow
onset of symptoms in a large number of cases, together with the
existence of raised temperatures and diarrhoea in many cases, lead
one to reject this hypothesis. The laboratory findings add further
confirmation.
Conclusions.
Bacteriological evidence supports the belief that the outbreak
of food poisoning which affected 45 children attending Garfield Road
School, New Southgate, was due to infection of foodstuff by a
paracolon bacillus. The majority of children were taken ill within
24 hours of having consumed a mid-day meal in the school canteen.
All the children who were taken ill during this period ate tinned
salmon as the main dish. Of the children affected later, a few had
not eaten tinned salmon.
Bacteriological evidence is not available to prove that tinned
salmon was the cause of the outbreak. Diarrhoea and sickness
were the most prominent features of the illness, with raised temperature,
mild collapse, abdominal pain and headache in a number
of cases. Symptoms lasted 48 hours on the average, recovery being
rapid and complete.
The standard of hygiene in the School Canteen and among the
Canteen workers was excellent.
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