Poison battle stepped up

Press, 20 January 1984, Page 5

Poison battle stepped up

PA Dunedin Health Department checks on freezing works, farms, and poultry processors are being stepped up as Otago experiences its worst outbreak of the food poisoning disease, Campylobacter.

The Deputy Medical Officer of Health in Dunedin, Dr Brian Doherty,

said yesterday that 24 cases were notified for December, and a steady stream this month. In November only two cases were reported. The public have been warned to take personal hygiene care, and to cook meat and poultry properly. The department is preparing guidelines on Campylobacter to be distributed to general practitioners. Dr Doherty said Campylobacter was spread by domestic pets after they ate raw meat, by poultry that was not cooked properly, and by poor general hygiene. The disease became notifiable from 1980 and doctors, the Health Department, and the public were becoming more aware of Campylobacter. "It may be coming up more often because there is more awareness,” Dr Doherty said. The disease causes diarrhoea, sometimes vomiting and occasionally complications, with pain spreading to joints. Many cases may not come to the department’s -notice. Extra industry and farm checks are being made as departmental staff return from holiday. “We now know what we are looking for,” Dr Doherty said.