DYSENTERY OUTBREAK

Press, Volume C, Issue 29625, 22 September 1961, Page 12

DYSENTERY OUTBREAK

Cases In North Otago An outbreak of bacillary dysentery of the sonne type, which is difficult to distinguish from the more common ailment of gastro-enteritis, has occurred in North Otago. Yesterday the medical officer of health at Timaru (Dr. W. I. Glass) left for .Oamaru to investigate an outbreak of the bacillary dysentery at the Waitaki Boys’ High School. He said many cases of the illness had been reported during the last two or three weeks from Oamaru. and the hydroelectric station at Waitaki.

Dr. Glass said it appeared the Waitaki village outbreak, which involved at least 11 persons, was spread during the school holidays by personal contact from child to child, and then from one household to the other with several adults becoming ill. Some of the children affected had since returned to homes in Christchurch and Dunedin. The department was still trying to trace the original sources of the outbreak, said Dr. Glass. “Apart from this outbreak, there have been scattered cases in Oamaru town and this week there was a further outbreak of 15 cases at Waitaki Boys’ High School.”

The spread of the illness was essentially hand-to-mouth, especially in semir closed communities such as schools, Army camps and institutions.

Dr. Glass said prevention was related to two basic approaches: the need for good personal hygiene, especially washing hands after visiting the toilet, and the reduction in flies, provision of safe water supplies and a sound sewerage system. The protection and careful handling of food was also an essential. Nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and high temperature had been present in many of the cases, children being more frequently affected than adults. Dr. Glass said.