ILL AFTER WEDDING

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30578, 22 October 1964, Page 1

ILL AFTER WEDDING

40 Cases In Ashburton (From Our Own Reporter) TIMARU, October 21. Forty cases of food poisoning at Ashburton were notified to the Medical Officer of Health at Timaru (Dr. R. D. Bailey) this week. Dr. Bailey said today the outbreak, which occurred last week-end and which was still being investigated, arose after a wedding reception. “I think we have found the organism responsible and believe we know where it comes from,” Dr. Bailey added. Persons should be extremely careful of personal hygiene and food premises should “look to their laurels” to make sure that all food handling was very carefully done, said Dr. Bailey. Extra special care in handling food was necessary in homes and shops. One guest was admitted to hospital, but the others did not require hospital treatment. She was still in the Ashburton Public Hospital today, where her condition was described as quite satisfactory. The majority have now recovered.

Mr T. G. McPherson, the borough inspector, said the poisoning was caused by one of the less common organisms. It was not killed by normal cooking temperatures as it was particularly resistant to heat.

“The culprit in this case is thought to be a carcase of pork,” said Mr McPherson. Two other weddings on the same day catered for by the firm were not affected. So far this week 16 cases of sonne-type dysentery have been advised from Ashburton and there have been three instances at Timaru.