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30
BACILLARY DYSENTERY.
(a) First Series—Outbreak at Nursery School.
On June 23rd attention was called to the fact tliat tlie whole
of one family with children attending the Nursery School had
suffered from diarrhoea and vomiting. When visited, the parents
and five children were found to be more or less convalescent. The
first case was stated to be J. W., aged 2 years, who with her sister,
E.W., attended the Nursery School. A tentative diagnosis of
bacillary dysentery was made. Rectal swabs were taken and
despatched for examination.
The following morning a message was received from the Head
Teacher of the Nursery School reporting that there had been many
cases of diarrhoea amongst the children. On visiting, it was found
that some 14 children were stated to have, or to have had, diarrhoea.
Rectal swabs were taken from these children, and after an
enquiry into the whole circumstances at the school it appeared that
the outbreak was probably due to bacillary dysentery. The outbreak
did not appear to be due in any way to food eaten at the
school, but rather to a case-to-case infection, probably originating
with J. W.
After consultation with the Director of Education it was decided
to close the school forthwith in order to try to limit the spread of
infection. Closure was effected under Articles 22 and 23 of the
Code of Regulations for Public Elementary Schools, 1926.
Later in the day visits were paid to seven absentees, also
reported to be suffering from diarrhoea. All except one were under
the care of the family doctor and all appeared to have dysentery.
In some cases the illness had already spread to other children (later
enquiries emphasized the highly infectious nature of the disease;
e.g., many parents contracted the illness, and even members of
other families sharing the same house).
A circular letter was sent the same day to the parents of each
child attending the Nursery School. The letter advised the calling
of medical aid in the event of diarrhoea and sickness, and the
strictest precautions in order to avoid the spread of the illness.
Concurrently, a circular letter was sent to each medical practitioner
in the town notifying the occurrence of the outbreak, and suggesting
that it was due to bacillary dysentery. The letter stated that
patients could be admitted to the Sanatorium on request being
made in the usual way.