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10
The picture was complicated by the simultaneous occurrence of
'winter vomiting'.
Affected children and contacts of primary school age were
excluded until free from infection. Contacts of secondary school age
were not excluded. Although a number of cases did occur amongst
secondary school children (and adults) there was no spread within
the schools.
Attempts to control these outbreaks threw a heavy burden on the
Public Health Inspectors who were occupied almost entirely in this
work for a considerable period.
Hygiene in the schools was carefully supervised; exclusion of
cases and contacts was controlled, and arrangements were made for
cases to be referred to their Doctors for treatment. These arrangements
provided a workable plan for doctors, teachers and parents, and
it is felt that the efforts played an important part in preventing spread
of the disease to other schools and limited the incidence in those
affected.
Food Poisoning.
Twelve cases were notified but seven of these were isolated cases
of gastro-intestinal upset which were investigated with entirely
negative results.
Three members of a household suffered from severe diarrhoea
and vomiting and this was thought to be a small outbreak of food
poisoning. Investigations of the suspected food and of the patients
proved negative and no causal agent was discovered.
A girl attending a local ballet school suffered from recurrent
diarrhoea and was found to be infected with salmonella typhimurium.
Investigation of home contacts and school kitchen staff were negative.
After treatment she became free from infection but continued to have
recurrent symptoms for some weeks. It is probable that she was
infected in France some weeks before the diagnosis was made.
A man aged 20 was suddenly taken ill with symptoms of gastroenteritis
and was found to be infected with salmonella enteritidis.
Investigation of home contacts proved that his young brother was a
symptomless carrier. In both cases the infection responded to treatment.
Typhoid Fever.
In May a girl aged 6 years and attending a local school was
admitted to hospital and found to be suffering from typhoid fever.
Her father had suffered from the disease some fifteen years earlier
but bacteriological investigation of all home contacts proved negative.