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in this Borough. All, except one, had been immunised against diphtheria
in infancy. Nose and throat swabs from all the children proved
negative, but immunisation booster injections for diphtheria were
given where it was deemed necessary.
Food Poisoning
An outbreak of food poisoning caused by the organism salmonella
typhimurium occurred at an Independent School in April.
The Health Department had not been notified about the outbreak,
but information from a Public Health Laboratory led to inquiries
which revealed that positive results had been obtained on specimens
from two pupils at the school. The school was then visited and it was
ascertained that 42 pupils out of a roll of 155, together with one
teacher and the housekeeper, had been ill the previous week and absent
from school. After a full investigation 51 positive cases were found.
It was found that some of the school meals were cooked at the
caterer's home and transported to the school. The caterer and one of
her two children were found to be positive. Swabs were taken from
the working surfaces and equipment at the school kitchen and the
caterer's home, but all these results were negative. The contaminated
food causing the outbreak could not be identified owing to the length
of time which elapsed before the Health Department found out about
the outbreak.
A number of boys who had been ill were allowed back to school
while still positive, one week after symptoms had ceased, with special
arrangements as to toilet and hand washing facilities. In six cases
the infection was found to have spread to other members of the boys'
families.
Since the outbreak a washhand basin has been installed in the
kitchen toilet, and hand washing notices are displayed in the kitchen.
The caterer was advised not to use her home for food preparation.
The last case was not cleared until late in July and more than
450 specimens were sent to the Public Health Laboratory for pathological
examination. Several other local authorities were involved,
since the school's pupils came from a very wide area.
2. Prophylactic Measures
1. Poliomyelitis Vaccination.
Vaccination of school children against Poliomyelitis continued
during the year. The actual number vaccinated or receiving reinforcing
doses during 1970 was as follows: —
Number of children vaccinated 74
Number of children given re-inforcing doses 1,998
No case of Poliomyelitis occurred in the Borough in 1970.
2. Diphtheria /Tetanus Immunisation.
Number of children given immunisation 106
Number of children given re-inforcing doses 2,121
No case of Diphtheria or Tetanus occurred among school children,
or otherwise, in this area but the importance of immunisation for all
children is in no way diminished.
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