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in a hospital in an adjoining borough. Twenty-two patients and five
midwives were investigated over a period of six weeks. No midwives
became infected.
Enteritis outbreak
In January, there was an outbreak of diarrhoea at premises used
by the Authority as Part III accommodation. Tests were carried out
on all families concerned but no organism was isolated.
A similar small outbreak in a primary school was investigated
and here also, testing proved negative, so it is likely that the outbreaks
were due to a virus.
In March, there were a number of cases of sickness at a primary
school. Investigations again proved negative but the pattern of the
illness resembled winter vomiting.
Also in July a pathogenic E.Cbli infection was found in a baby
in a local hospital. The mother, who had come from a local Mother
and Baby Home, and the midwifery staff involved, were investigated.
A non-nursing member of the hospital staff was also found to be infected,
but the outbreak was soon under control, and no further cases
occurred.
Tuberculosis
In March a resident was removed to a hospital from an Old
People's Home on account of rheumatoid arthritis. On investigation
she was also found to be suffering from tuberculosis. All contacts in
the Home were investigated and the Mass X-Ray Unit was brought
to the Home. In all, 28 staff and 37 residents were X-rayed, but no
other case was discovered.
Typhoid and Paratyphoid Fevers
During the year three confirmed cases of typhoid fever occurred
in the Borough.
The source was known in one case since he was a technician in
a bacteriological laboratory. In the other two cases, the source could
not be ascertained.
In all cases and contacts, the necessary medical surveillance was
maintained for a considerable period.
A ship's steward who had had typhoid fever in the ' S.S. Oronsay'
outbreak in January was bacteriologically investigated and tested for
a period of six months until he was proved to be clear.
There were also eight cases who had been typhoid contacts who
were fully investigated and proved to be negative.
Five contacts of paratyphoid fever were investigated and they
also proved negative.
One lady, who had remained a paratyphoid carrier since 1969,
had an operation to remove her gallbladder and she has since been
negative.
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