SALMONELLOSIS IN PICTON

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28800, 22 January 1959, Page 10

SALMONELLOSIS IN PICTON

Hotel Outbreak “Now Ender Control” (New Zeaiana Press Association) BLENHEIM. January_2l. The Medical Officer of Health’ for Marlborough and Nelson (Dr. R. R. W. Morrison) is confident that an outbreak of salmonellosis, a severe intestinal infection and a notifiable disease, which last week affected guests and staff of a Picton hotel is now under control.

Four guests were admitted to the Wairau Public Hospital, and others suffered minor attacks. Many of these have returned to their, homes in various parts of New Zealand, some possibly carrying the infection. Health authorities are endeavouring to communicate with all guests at the hotel last week so that tests can be taken to see whether they are carrying the infection. If they have it they can carry it and spread it for up to six months. Dr. Morrison said that tests taken from guests and staff of the hotel had yielded 37 positive cases of persons who had either contracted the disease or were carrying it. About seven or eight members of the kitchen staff had proved positive cases.

As soon as salmonellosis was suspected, all members of the staff handling food were stood down pending the carrying out of tests. From that time no new cases occurred at the hotel. None of the staff stood down has resumed work yet. They must show three consecutive negative tests, each taken at 48-hour intervals, before they can be considered safe.