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FOOD POISONING (CONTD.)
In accordance with instructions contained in Ministry of
Health Memorandum 188/Med. "Reports on individual Food Poisoning
Outbreak" were sent to the Ministry concerning two such cases
occurring in the Borough during the year under review, viz:-
1. An outbreak of food poisoning on 28th and 29th May, 1959, at
a works in the Borough. About 50 members of a staff of 60
reported their illness to the Management who immediately
requested the Department' help and investigation.
Early enquiries pointed towards C1. welchii being the most
likely causative organism and the chicken meal served in the
canteen at lunch time on the 27th May was suspect. Fortunately
a good range of ingredients of this meal were available for
bacteriological examination and samples of this were collected,
as were faecal specimens from a number of affected persons,
including the kitchen staff, some of whom were affected.
The Laboratory reports showed that the broth in which the
chicken offal was cooked and the offal itself were infected with
CI. welchii (type 4) and the identical organism was recovered
from all the faeces submitted.
There can be little doubt therefore that the source of
infection was one or more of the twelve chickens used. These
were pre-cooked (boiled) on the 26th May, and from the enquiries
made it appears that a contributory factor in causing the
outbreak was the slow cooling of a large mass of stock. In such
circumstances a period of ideal conditions for a "build-up" of
the organisms is created.
The illness may be described as being fairly mild (only 1
affected member of the staff failed to report for duty on the
28th May,) and all reported completely recovered by the 29th May.
None found it necessary to consult their doctor therefore no case
was officially notified.
2. Details concerning the second occurrence are as follows:-
This took place in a private household on the evening of
the 25th December, 1959 (Christmas Day), involving three persons.
Faeces from the affected persons showed a heavy Staph. aureus
infection, but vomit was negative. No specimens were obtained
from the third victim.
Food samples were taken for laboratory investigation and the
results are shown hereunder:-
Fat from goose - no pathogens
Beef dripping - - do -
Gravy - - do -
Cooked ham - - do -
Remains of goose with stuffing - Moderate growth of
Staph. aureus.
Stuffing (cultured separately) - Heavy growth of
Staph. aureus.
Bread sauce - - do -
A contributory factor in this incident was undoubtedly
leaving prepared food in a warm kitchen for some hours.
19.