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20 schools revealed a total of 60 absentees among children who had
been on the cruise, with a further 140 children who had been ill and
recovered. In all, 78 children were found to be infected.
Control measures were put into effect immediately. The schools
concerned were visited and inspected, advice was given on hygiene
and additional cleaning and disinfection of toilets was arranged.
Canteen staff were alerted and advised and Head Teachers were asked
to inform the Health Department of any new cases. A letter was sent
to the parents of all childlren who had been on the cruise in order to
inform them of the outbreak and to enable the Department to trace
any contacts in 'at risk' occupations.
There was close liaison with the Chief Medical Officer of the
Shipping Company and food handlers in the ship were tested and
found to be negative. The ship's next four cruises were uneventful.
The overall picture of the children's health on the cruise was somewhat
confused by sea-sickness during the last few days, but the most
probable source of infection was thought to have been ice-cream eaten
at the end of the cruise in a small cafe in Itea where there was only
one toilet and no washing facilities.
In all, about 325 families were tested, including 48 with members
in 'at risk' occupations, and more than 900 specimens were sent to
the Public Health Laboratory at St. George's Hospital, whose staff
coped wonderfully well with what must have been a great burden.
The last case was not cleared until two months had elapsed.
When the outbreak was over, additional recommendations were
made to the Education Committee which should minimise the possibility
of a recurrence.
Following notification in May of dysentery in an adult male,
investigation showed that his stepson, who attended a Day Nursery,
was a symptomless excreter. Enquiries at the Nursery subsequently
revealed two more positive cases. All children and staff at the Nursery
were tested and, apart from the three cases mentioned above all were
negative. The mother of one child was found to be a Nursing Auxiliary
at a local hospital. The three cases were cleared within a month.
The Nursery was kept under supervision by a Senior Medical Officer
during the course of the investigation.
Late in May notification was received from the local Public
Health Laboratory of a case of sonne dysentery in a child living in
premises which are Part III accommodation owned by the Borough.
On investigation the whole family was found to be infected and the
father, who worked as a food handler in another Borough, was
excluded from work. Four other cases, in three families, were subsequently
discovered, but the last case was cleared by the end of June.
The premises were visited frequently during the outbreak by members
of the Health Department staff.
In the last week in May several children at a primary school were
reported as suffering from diarrhoea, but on investigation were found
to be negative. The school was, however, kept under observation and
tests were made on fresh cases which occurred, with the result that
between 18th June and 7th July,, nine positive cases of sonne dysentery
came to light. The nine cases were in five families and, of these,
two were in adjacent houses. Two teachers and a meals supervisor had
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