View report page

SONNE' DYSENTERY
The occurrence of the highest number of cases yet
recorded in Surbiton calls for comment.
During the past ten years the type of Dysentery known as
"Sonne" has become widely recognised in this country, but
fortunately the illness is usually mild in character. The
total number of cases notified in England and Vales in 1956
was 48,982.
It is acce.pted that there is still much to be learnt about
this disease and further study is called for.
Unlike other forms of dysentery it seems to prefer cold,
damp conditions. It is known to be highly infectious, spread
taking place by personal contact with infected persons or articles
as well as through the medium of food or drink.
Personal hygiene is of the utmost importance in prevention
especially the washing of hands after use of water-closet and
before eating.
W.C.'s should be kept scrupulously clean, seats, chain-pulls
and door handles in particular being frequently washed.
The disease was first recognised in Surbiton in
1950 when 140 cases were notified mainly in the Chessington and
Hook districts; 1951 saw 62 cases but there was a complete lull
in 1952.
In 1953, 1954 and 1955 the figures were 10, 12 and 25 with
a jump to 289 in 1956.
Again the majority of the cases occurred at Chessington and
Hook, but this time there was some spread into Tolworth with a
few cases in the vicinity of Surbiton Hill.
Schools are naturally associated with the dissemination of
the illness, but without doubt it also spreads rapidly through
households once introduced. It is therefore regarded as a
"family" illness necessitating checking of all contacts. This
is readily done in the laboratory by examination of faeces, but
the task of controlling an outbreak is a major operation calling
for close co-operation between laboratory, medical practitioners,
teachers, parents and Public Health Department staff.
The high local notification rate is no doubt due in large
measure to the diligence with which cases are searched for and
contacts checked.
No person who has been a confirmed case (child or adult) is
regarded as reasonably free from liability to spread infection until
three consecutive negative specimens have been forthcoming. There
is much evidence of reversion after two negatives and even of this
occurring more than once with the same patient.
There are those who, because of the general mildness of the
illness and the difficulties of applying proper control measures,
express a view that the disease may be ignored and allowed to run
its course, the outbreak declining naturally.
This policy is not accepted by us. Sonne Dysentery is a
recognisable highly infectious notifiable disease which can be
fatal in very young children and cause untold interference with life
and work. It requires relentless application of ordinary public
health measures to combat it and the close co-operation of all groups
concerned.
- 20 _