EPIDEMIOLOGICAL REPORTS-Continued hospital nursery. Of the 65 cases, 18 were in children under 1 year of age and 26 were in the 1- to 4-year age group. Because of the increased occurrence of this type of salmonellosis and of the concentration of cases in young children, an investigation is under way. Since September 1955, this is the third known outbreak among the newborn of diarrhea with etiology determined to be a salmonella-2 due to S. oranienburg and 1 to Salmonella newport. Dr. F. H. Wentworth, Ohio Department of Health, has reported an outbreak of salmonellosis among children in a hospital. Salmonella chester was isolated from 9 children ranging in age from 2 months to 4 years. There was suggestive evidence that 3 of the cases may have resulted from intrahospital transmission. It is unlikely that all cases can be attributed to this source. The rarity of this organism has prompted intensive.interviews of the families. No common source of infection has been found. Shigellosis Dr. James R. Enright, Hawaii Department of Health, has given preliminary information on an outbreak of shigellosis following a wedding luau (native feast). An examination of 135 individuals resulted in the isolation of 39 cases of Shigeila sonnei, 4 cases of Salmonella grumpensis, and 3 cases of a combination of the 2 organisms. Of 3 persons responsible for the preparation of the luau, 2 were found positive for S. sonnei. Of 9 members of the family giving the luau, S. sonnei was isolated from 4 and S. grumpensis, from 1. Ref Morbidity and Mortality HEALTH DEPARTMENT DUCATION USA May 25, 1956 AND WELFARE U. S. Department of HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND WELFARE Weekly Public Health Service NATIONAL OFFICE OF VITAL STATISTICS Washington 25, D. C. NORARY OF THES قلاله UNIVERS Vol. 5, No. 20 Provisional Information on Selected Notifiable Diseases in the United States and on Deaths in Selected Cities for Week Ended May A suspect case of botulism has been reported in Brooklyn, Chemical poisoning Of the 45 cases of infectious encephalitis reported this week, 17 were in California. While the total exceeds that of the previous week, there is no apparent increase in the incidence as yet. The usual seasonal increase in incidence begins about June 1. The number of poliomyelitis cases reported for the current week, disease year, and calendar year are shown below. Dr. D. G. Gill, Alabama Department of Public Health, has provided information about an outbreak of arsenical poisoning in an institution. An investigation revealed that liquid spray, used on peach trees, apparently blew on a field of cabbage. The cabbage was served raw after having, supposedly, been washed. Of 60 persons hospitalized, 5 were seriously ill and 1 had an intestinal hemorrhage. Urine examinations on all 60 were positive for arsenic, and there were an additional 10 to 15 persons with positive urine tests but who had no physical symptoms. Onset of symptoms was within 24 to 48 hours after eating the cabbage. It was stated that a similar occurrence last year affected a few persons in the institution. Dr. D. G. Gill, Alabama Department of Public Health, has supplied information on a case of illness first reported as atypical pneumonia. Complement fixation tests were negative for psittacosis and doubtful for histoplasmosis. However, a blood specimen taken later was positive for histoplasmosis in a dilution of 1:10. The patient died within a few days. Histoplasma capsulatum was demonstrated on the wet smear from the lung tissue and was confirmed by cultural and animal work. The patient's 2 children also showed by X-ray a lung involvement, and one of them gave a positive complement fixation reaction to histoplasmosis. Samples of soil to which the father and 2 children were exposed were demonstrated to have H. capsulatum. Echinococcosis Dr. D. G. Gill has given information about a case of echinococcosis which occurred in the northern part of Alabama. The complement fixation test on a blood specimen was positive for the disease in a dilution of 1:8. The patient came from Germany about 6 years ago. The local physician felt that the patient had on several occasions shown definite symptoms of the disease which was apparently now in a quiescent stage. Psittacosis Gastro-enteritis Dr. J. L. Freitag, New York State Department of Health, has reported an outbreak of gastro-enteritis among 425 persons who attended a church dinner. Of these, approximately 190 became ill with abdominal cramps and diarrhea from 10 to 18 hours later. Stool specimens were obtained from 6 patients and specimens of all food items, including turkey the suspected vehicle, were collected. The laboratory report on each food and stool specimen was negative for enteric pathogens. The food for this dinner had been prepared by an undetermined number of women. It was reported that turkeys were mishandled by not being refrigerated but left at room temperature for 24 hours following the roasting. All persons interviewed who were ill had eaten turkey but each had not eaten identical other foods The California State Department of Public Health has reported an outbreak of gastro-enteritis among 25 persons in a private residence. Of these, 10 became ill from 12 to 39 hours after eating cream puffs. The predominant symptoms were cramps and diarrhea. However, 3 patients had vomiting and 1 had fever. Bacteriological examination of samples of cream puffs and 2 other items, received from both the home and a local bakery, were negative for pathogens. Specimens collected from food handlers and 7 patients were also negative. It was stated that the cream puffs were purchased from a local bakery, taken home and immediately placed in a refrigerator. There was no indication of improper protection during the preparation of the cream puffs. Dr. E. J. Witte, Veterinarian, Pennsylvania Department of Health, has reported 2 cases of psittacosis, in a husband and wife. Both had chills and fever and were treated at home by the family physician. They appeared to have recovered after a week but became ill again about 7 days later and were hospitalized. Blood specimens collected 2 weeks apart showed a rise in titers for psittacosis-from 1:8 to 1:64 and from 1:64 to 1:128. The patients had been given a parakeet 6 days before the onset of their symptoms. The bird became ill immediately, was treated by a veterinarian, but died the following day. The bird was buried and was not available for laboratory examination. The local store where the bird was purchased has gone out of business but it was learned that the bird originated from a company in New York. The Los Angeles City Health Department has reported an outbreak of gastro-enteritis among customers of a restaurant. Ten persons in 3 groups became ill with cramps and diarrhea from 10 to 15 hours after eating beef-dip sandwiches. None of this food was available for bacteriological examination. An investigation revealed certain conditions in the restaurant needed correction. The large "bain-marie" normally used to hold the pieces of beef after they came out of the oven was not in operating condition. The meat slicing machine had an accumulation of food particles. These are two conditions which may have had a relation to the outbreak. Dr. W. R. Giedt, Washington State Department of Health, has given additional information on the outbreak of gastroenteritis in an institution reported for the week ended May 5. The organism isolated from potato salad served at the institution was Staphylococcus albus. An outbreak of gastro-enteritis involving 6 persons was reported in Louisiana. This outbreak was associated with ham, and hemolytic Staphylococcus aureus was isolated from a sample of it. The California State Department of Public Health has reported 4 cases of gastro-enteritis following the ingestion of custard-filled chocolate eclairs. Coagulase-positive, grampositive staphylococci were isolated from an eclair. The eclairs were purchased from one commercial bakery but they were prepared in another. The custard filling (egg, milk, and corn starch) was made and then precooled at room temperature. It was recommended that the filling be placed in more shallow containers and that it not be allowed to precool at room temperature. Both bakeries were found to be clean and in orderly condition. No evidence of skin infection was found among employees of either. Table 1. CASES OF SPECIFIED NOTIFIABLE DISEASES: CONTINENTAL UNITED STATES (Numbers after diseases are category numbers of the Sixth Revision of the International Lists, 1948) |