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9
EPIDEMIOLOGY
(Dr. M.T. Fernandes, M.B., B.S., D.P.H., D.I.H., D.C.H., L.M.,
Deputy Medical Officer of Health)
Dysentery
and Food
Poisoning
During the year we were fortunate in that only two small incidences
of Shigella sonnei were confirmed; at a junior school and at a day
nursery.
419 cases of dysentery were notified but only 43 were confirmed
bacteriologically. These were all isolated cases with very little, if any,
connection with other known cases.
97 cases of Food Poisoning were notified and 31 were also investigated
which were brought to our notice from other sources.
No outbreaks, to our knowledge, originated in the Borough.
A number of cases were from guests who attended four different
weddings. Although our evidence is small it is obvious that not too much
care can ever be given when food, in quantity, is being prepared, particularly
if frozen poultry is used.
Typhoid and
Paratyphoid
Because of the number of cases of typhoid which originated in
Mediterranean countries last summer we were involved in checking many
contacts.
No cases of typhoid were discovered but oneyoung man was removed
to hospital where he was clinically confirmed as a Paratyphoid. It was
interesting to know that another member of the same party, living in a
different part of England, was also a confirmed Paratyphoid.
Four other cases of Salmonella were also found from returning
tourists who had visited this area.
Leptospirosis
One case of leptospirosis was notified and although bacteriological
examination of blood did not confirm the diagnosis, it was discovered
that the child had spent much time caring for, and playing with, gerbils,
a small desert rat.
With increased travel and interest in a wider variety of animals as
pets, monkeys, terrapins etc., I feel it is reasonable to believe that the
lesser known infectious diseases may be encountered from time to time.