Food poisoning strikes again

Press, 27 May 1981, Page 7

Food poisoning strikes again

PA Dunedin About 80 patients at Cherry Farm Hospital, near Dunedin, have been affected by the second bout of food poisoning at the hospital in a month.

Thirty to 40 patients from two villas suffered food poisoning four weeks ago. During this time one elderly male patient died, and the matter was referred to the Dunedin coroner, Mr J. M. Conradson.

The Dunedin police are investigating the death as agents for the Coroner. After the first bout the Health Department was called in and. according to the Otago Hospital Board's medical superintendent-in-chief, Dr K. E. Berendsen, a common but not very toxic organism was isolated as the cause.

The second outbreak occurred last week and affected 80 patients from three villas, not including the two

previously affected. The villas are’ serviced by one kitchen.

"Nobody came to any harm." Dr Berendsen said. He also said that he did not think anybody came to harm on the previous occasion, but the matter was referred to the Coroner to be certain.

"These things happen in institutions. There is not much you can do but it is terribly distressing,” Dr Berendsen said.

In the previous case the Health Department investigated and made recommendations for food handling and refrigeration. Dr Berendsen said that the department would investigate the latest outbreak but it. would be a week or so before the results were known. A thorough investigation of food handling methods at Cherry Farm would be made in an effort to isolate the cause of the food poisoning and stop future outbreaks.