The Badsey Epidemic – “Little Change" reported by Dr Shennan; MOH says infection has now reached Evesham
Dr E T Shennan, Area Medical Officer of Health, at present engaged in fighting an epidemic of dysentery which has swept through the village of Badsey and into the surrounding area, said on Wednesday:
"There is little change in the situation, though the spread from the Badsey area has probably been checked by the school breaking up for the Easter holiday."
Investigations during the past week have confirmed that the infection is widespread in the Badsey men, and have brought to light a number of cases in the borough of Evesham. This spread was envisaged by Dr Shennan who says that all present cases will continue to be infective for several weeks.
"Sickness with diarrhoea and fever must still be regarded as probably caused by the same infective organism, and precautions must be continued – as I advised last week – to prevent the spread of the disease," says the Medical Officer of Health.
Asking people not to overburden their family doctor with needless cause ("he is already working at top pitch"), Dr Shennan explains that calls for a necessary visit by the doctor should be made early in the morning.
"Handwashing is the best means of prevention, both of becoming infected and of passing on the infection in the present epidemic,” says Dr Shennan. “If scrupulous cleanliness is not observed the disease may continue to smoulder on for several months, and in warmer weather may become a serious problem.”
An extra warning! If disinfectants are being used in lavatories or elsewhere in the house, replace the bottle out of reach of small children. Some disinfectants and lavatory cleaners are corrosive poison!
“WASH YOUR HANDS”
Dr Shennan reiterates the advice he gave last week.
- Wash your hands. Never leave the toilets with taking this simple precaution against passing on disease. Accompany small children and wash their hands for them.
- Wash your hands always before preparing food or eating food. Take special care if you are engaged in cooking or food handling for large numbers of people in canteens, restaurants or shops.
- Be careful to wash thoroughly in clean water all foodstuffs to be eaten raw – salad onions, lettuce, etc.
- Do not wash soiled clothing the kitchen, and specially do not put dirty articles on the draining boards. If you must wash in the kitchen, remove articles used for meals first and scrub down afterwards.
- Soap and water and sunshine are the best disinfectants, but use a little proprietary disinfectant in washing soiled garments and disinfecting lavatory seats, chains and doorknob.
- Take special care with soiled napkins and underwear from small children.