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23
Sonne Dysentery
Of the 54 cases of Sonne dysentery, 49 had symptoms and
5 were found to have an infection when tested as contacts and were
thus carriers. 38 of the cases and all 5 carriers were concerned
in one outbreak when 19 children from one infants' school were
affected. With the co-operation of the school spread of infection
was restricted to 8 other school children, 6 pre-school children
and 5 adults. The other 16 cases were isolated incidences
unconnected with this outbreak.
It cannot be too strongly emphasized that sonne dysentery
is an infection which can readily spread in the community.
Prevention can be achieved by immediate notification of all cases
of diarrhoea occurring in infant and junior schools, ready
co-operation of parents in implementing a rigid exclusion policy of
patients and children and food handler contacts.
It is emphasized that the practice of teaching pre-school
children to wash their hands after visiting the W.C. and the
continuance of this practice in school is to be encouraged.
Paratyphoid
Four cases of paratyphoid, all caused by the organism
Salmonella para-typhi B, occurred in unconnected cases. One was a
woman employed in a mental hospital in an adjoining borough, and
another a boy suspected of having contracted the infection whilst
on holiday abroad. Similarly a woman was thought to have
contracted the infection abroad, and in the fourth case, a man, the
source of infection could not be traced.
Food Poisoning
Four cases of food poisoning were notified and confirmed
during the year and of those, three were caused by the organism
Salmonella typhimurium, the infection being contracted whilst on
holiday on the Continent. In the fourth case the organism
responsible was Salmonella enteritidis contracted whilst attending
a wedding reception in another area.
Meningococcal Infection
A woman aged 68 died from a meningococcal infection, but
the disease had not been previously notified.