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Infectious Diseases

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Infectious Diseases is supported by Community & Neighbourhood Services, Food Safety & Licensing.

What to do to get this service

The South Holland District Council has a legal obligation to investigate causes of food poisoning and infectious diseases and take appropriate action to prevent the spread of those illnesses within the community.

There are a number of illnesses that are legally notifiable to us. If you want to know whether a particular illness is notifiable, then you should speak to an officer on the Food Safety Team.

Common Questions

Q. I think I have food poisoning what should I do?
A. Food Handler
If you are a food handler then you must report it to your boss immediately. If you have any symptoms of:
- vomiting
- fever
- diarrhoea
- headache
- stomach pains
- tired "washed out" feeling

You must not handle or go near any food. You should remain off work until at least 48 hours after any symptoms have stopped or you have clearance from your doctor or the Environmental Health department.

You should speak to an officer or your doctor who will take the necessary action and offer advice.

General
It is important firstly to contact your doctor who can diagnose what you are suffering from. It may not be food poisoning and lots of other things can cause illness. In order to confirm whether it is food poisoning or not, you will need to submit a faecal sample for examination. You may wish to advise the Environmental Health department of any suspected source (for example food, food business).

If your doctor advises you that you have suspected food poisoning then you should contact the Council and ask to speak to an officer of the Food Safety Team. We can advise you what action you should take to prevent any further spread and will take a food history in case we need to carry out an investigation.

For more specific guidance or advice, speak to an officer of the food team.

Q. What do I do if I think I may have symptoms of food borne illness?
A. Food borne illness can spread quickly, partly because everyone in the family could have eaten the same food and partly because the bacteria may be picked up by close family contact (e.g. nursing the sick). Viruses can also cause illness, similar to food poisoning and they also spread very quickly. If you suspect you are suffering food poisoning it is recommended that you visit your doctor as soon as possible, who might ask you to submit a sample for examination. Samples are useful in that they might be able to show which food-borne illness you are suffering from, or could rule out a food-poising organism. Viruses can also be detected.

Consult your doctor immediately if the person affected is a baby, elderly or has an existing illness or condition or if symptoms are prolonged or severe (e.g. bloody diarrhoea).

If you or a member of your family are suffering from the symptoms of food poisoning, it is recommended that you follow the advice below to try and prevent the spread of the illness:

1. wash your hands after contact with the sick person, and before handling food.
2. do not use the same towel or face cloth as someone who is suffering with food borne illness.
3. clear up soiling accidents straightaway, wash with hot soapy water and disinfect with a disinfectant or bleach.
4. disinfect door and toilet handles, taps and the toilet seat after use and disinfect the toilet bowl frequently.
5. drink plenty of fluids while you are ill to prevent dehydration.

Printed leaflets available providing more information

The following leaflets are available from the food team (some are available on the Council's website at the present time. We hope that all the leaflets will be available on-line shortly).

- Salmonella
- Campylobacter
- E Coli 0157
- Giardiasis
- Cryptosporidiosis
- Suspected Food Poisoning
- Hepatitis A
- Viral Gastroenteritis
- Viral Gastroenteritis (institutional outbreaks)
- Shigella (Bacillary Dysentery)

Any information received will be treated in the strictest confidence, in accordance with National Guidelines.

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Contact Details

If you have any queries about the information provided above, or require further information, please contact Customer Services on 01775 761161 or email info@sholland.gov.uk.