DISEASE-LADEN MILK.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 August 1919, Page 6

DISEASE-LADEN MILK.

EPIDEMIC IN WELLINGTON. ENTERIC FEVER OUTBREAK. An epidemic of enteric fever occurred recently in Wellington. The city had previously been free from the disease for many years, and in ah account of the outbreak published in the Journal of Public Health Dr. M. H. Watt, district health officer, states that infected milk was found to be the agent of distribution. "The first case was notified on April 23, while within the succeeding fortnight 20 additional cases were brought before the notice of the Health Department. The milk supply of the households from which the first two cases were reported was the same, and as no cases of enteric fever had occurred in Wellington for some months previously suspicion was* aroused that the infection had been milk-borne. Consequently an officer of the Department visited the farm concerned and made carefulinquiry into the staje of health of those handling the milk. It was found that of {he three milkers at the farm two' were newcomers, and for that reason could not be held acountable for the cases under investigation. All three were in perfect health. Information was obtained, however, that a former employee had been forced to give np work on April 1 on account of an, "illness which had been present for about a fortnight, and of which the symptoms were highly suspicious of enteric fever. The individual was traced' to an institute in Wellington and was subjected to bacteriological examination, when it was clearly established that he was just convalescent from an attack of enteric fever, being Btill in a highly iifective condition. He was promptly isolated and put on appropriate treatment. To ensure that no other focus of infection remained unrecognised the other employee at the farm, who had been in contact with this enteric patient, was examined bactcriologically, but with negative results.

"Thirty-four cases have occurred definitely attributable to this milk supply, 26 being primary and due to the ingestion of the contaminated, milk, ciffht being secondary, and due to infection from other cases in the household. The 34 cases, of whom 24 were female and 10 male, were distributed among 15 households in the following manner:— Two households fi cases each, one household 3 cases, seven households 2 cases each, five households 1 case each. Owing to the presnece of influenza and the similaritv between the earlier stages of enteric fever and this disease, several of the cases were notified in the first instance as influenza. "In addition to the 34 cases detailed shove, three other cases were notified during the same period in Wellington City. One was a returned soldier who had "been travelling throughout Now Zealand, and who probablv acquired his infection outside of Wellington. The other two were individuals who were in the habit of having meals in any restaurant or hotel, and may therefore have partaken of some of the infected milk."