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17
At an early stage in the investigation circumstantial evidence pointed to
the probable source of infection being the products of a food premises situated
in the area of the borough in which the majority of the affected persons
resided. Routine bacteriological sampling of the faeces and urine of all the
employees of the establishment in question led to the discovery of three
persons, one a Hackney resident, with positive faeces and these persons were
apparently symptomless excreters. Exhaustive sampling of the various ingredients
used in the business gave negative results; no less than twenty
different substances were bacteriologically investigated and particular attention
was paid to egg products. Detailed interrogation of the victims and
their families showed that 25 of the affected persons had definitely consumed
food purchased from the business in question, that eight others had probably
also partaken of food from the same shop, but in seven instances no association
with the suspected source could be established.
When a case or suspected case was reported, all members of the household
were bacteriologically investigated and it was in this way that the relatively
large numbers of apparently symptomless excreters were discovered Excreters
engaged in the handling of food were excluded from work until three consecutive
negative examinations of faeces and urine over a period of two weeks were
received school children giving positive results were also excluded until
the required number of satisfactory negative tests was obtained.
The first case was admitted to hospital on the 26th August and the last on
the 3rd November. The disease was, in practically all cases, of a mild type
but a number of affected persons took a considerable length of time before they
became free from infection, and the last patient was discharged from hospital
on January 19th of the current year. The organism responsible was Salm.
paratyphi B. Vi-phage Type "Taunton".
In accordance with the Public Health (Infectious Diseases) Regulations,
1953, the three employees at the food business which appeared to be the source
of the outbreak were formally excluded from work as "carriers" of the disease,,
Two of these persons in due course submitted claims for compensation for loss
of earnings and pursuant to Section 278 of the Public Health Act, 1936, these
claims, amounting to a total of £23 7s were naid bv this Authority

In addition to the 40 cases occurring in this borough some 17 cases were
notified in a neighbouring borough and epidemiologically they must be regarded
as part of the same outbreak.
POLIOMYELITIS (INFANTILE PARALYSIS), Some 73 persons were admitted to hospital
suspected to be suffering from poliomyelitis, The diagnosis was confirmed in
only 35 cases, of which 20 were of the paralytic and 15 of the non-paralytic
type. in one instance there were two cases, one paralytic - a boy aged 10
years, and one non-paralytic a boy aged 8 years, in one family; there
appeared to be no association, geographical or otherwise between the remaining
cases.