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DYSENTERY. One-hundred-and-sixty-two cases of Sonne dysentery occurred during
the year, 30 of these being associated with an outbreak of the infection in a nursery,
41 with a similar outbreak in a nursery school, and the remaining 91 being in sporadic
cases.

Brief details of these day nursery and nursery school outbreaks are as follows
Nursery School. The outbreak amongst the children attending the nursery school
occurred in March, involving during its course 39 children, one member of the staff and
one school child home contact. The first positive case was reported on the 1st March,
but with the co-operation of all concerned, final clearance specimens for all children
were obtained by the beginning of June. This was achieved with minimal disturbance of
the school activities.
Day Nursery. This outbreak commenced towards the end of August following the
exclusion of a child with loose stools which was confirmed on bacteriological examination
as Sonne dysentery. During the course of the outbreak, four members of the staff and
sixteen children were affected, and ten further cases were confirmed amongst the home
contacts of those children. By the end of September, final clearance specimens were
obtained In respect of the nursery children and re-admission was possible.
The 91 sporadic cases involved 58 families and no common source was identified.
Measures of control included the admission of cases to hospital when the medical
or medico-social circumstances required; and the exclusion of cases and contacts from
school and nursery and from any occupation involving food handling. The occurrence of
symptomless excretors in this disease, especially amongst adult contacts, is common and
renders its control difficult unless hygienic practices are of a high standard.
FOOD POISONING. Twenty-seven cases of food poisoning were notified during the
year. Thirteen of these cases were associated with three outbreaks, whilst the remaining
14 cases, in spite of full investigation and inquiry including laboratory investigation
of close contacts, were deemed to be isolated instances of infection for which no cause
could be found.
Salmonella Typhi-murium was confirmed as the infecting organism in 13 cases.
As in the case of Sonne dysentary, appropriate epidemiological investigations were
made in all cases notified in order to ascertain the causative organism and to prevent the
spread of further infection. Persons affected were advised to seek treatment from their
doctors when necessary, and all cases and contacts were followed up until bacteriological
clearance had been achieved.
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