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infection. A fourth member of the family became ill with the
same infection on 6th June and a fifth on the 11th June. The
surviving four persons were admitted to hospital and recovered.
Investigations were commenced on the 4th June and were
continued over the next fortnight. It was soon established that
the organism responsible for the outbreak was Salmonella Typhi
Murium and it is certain that the three persons first affected received
their infection from food eaten in the day or so preceding their
illness, whilst the last two cases were probably cross infections
within the household.
Some fourteen specimens of food and drink from the affected
household were submitted to the Public Health Laboratory Service
and of these one was found to be infected with the causative
organism. This was a specimen of ham bought at a local shop by
the family and eaten on 2nd June. This was, however, retrieved
from the dustbin, and it is therefore uncertain whether the ham
was infected before or after delivery to the household or even in
the dustbin itself.
Investigations were extended to the shop which supplied the
ham and specimens of faeces were obtained from all persons working
in the shop and also from the three cats in the shop. All these
specimens gave negative results. The cats in the infected household
also gave negative results.
The Borough where the factory which supplied the suspected
ham to the local shop was situated, were also contacted, and their
investigations at the source also were without result.
It must be reported that a further case of Salmonella Typhi
Murium food poisoning occurred in a household in the same ward
at approximately the same date as this family was affected. It
proved impossible to find any common factor as the sources of food
supply to the separate households were entirely different.
Considerable time and effort were expended in these investigations
and whilst no positive source of infection was traced, it was
some satisfaction to know that every possible source of infection
was checked.
CHINESE EGG PRODUCTS
In September the Medical Officer of Health of an adjoining
Borough reported that Salmonella organisms had been found in a
consignment and that 7-lbs. had been delivered to a Walthamstow
baker. The remaining 3-lbs. were sampled and voluntarily
surrendered for destruction. A week later it was reported that