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Food Poisoning
Twelve cases of food poisoning were notified. As a result of enquiries
it was ascertained that 31 persons suffered symptoms of poisoning.
In ten instances one member only of the family was affected. The
infecting organism was identified as S. Typhimurium in seven and S.
Enteritidis in one. In two other occurrences two people were affected
in each. The vehicle of infection was not established with any certainty
in any of these cases, but suspicion in three instances attached to tinned
ham, spam and inadequately washed lettuce.
In June, 17 guests at a wedding luncheon fell ill about five hours
after the meal. Investigation indicated that the commodity at fault
was tinned ham of Australian origin. The illness was in all probability
due to pre-formed toxin and no living organisms were isolated from the
patients or from the ham. All patients recovered.
It is found that many of the single cases of poisoning due to infection
with S. Typhimurium are young children. This may well be
explained by the fact that since rodents such as mice and rats are
common reservoirs of this infection, the undeveloped sense of personal
hygiene in the very young renders them much more liable to the
introduction of infection by the mouth.
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