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Investigation of notifications of infectious diseases such as food poisoning received from GPs, the public, businesses and other local authorities.
The Law requires reporting of infectious diseases to local authorities, these are known as notifiable diseases and will be investigated by the Local Authority.
What We Do
• Investigate confirmed and suspected cases of Food Poisoning; Dysentery; Viral Hepatitis, Typhoid Fever and other notifiable diseases
Investigate outbreaks of viral and bacterial gastro-enteritis in Schools; Residential Homes etc
• The Officer will usually contact the individual suffering from the infectious disease by telephone and ask them a series of questions to try and identify the source of the problem.
The type of questions you would get asked would include;
• Details of food eaten over the past 48 hours
• Details of any travel (abroad)
• Details of any contact with other persons who have been suffering from diarrhoea and vomiting
• Details of any recreational water sports
• Any contact with any animals (farm or domestic)
Arrange for faecal samples to be analysed to identify whether a specific type of viral or bacterial organism is present
Take food samples and swabs for analysis to identify whether they contain the same organisms that have caused symptoms of diarrhoea and/or vomiting etc to persons
What we can do to help you
Offer advice and send leaflets relating to personal hygiene and food hygiene/safety
Identify control measures that are essential to prevent risks of viral and bacterial gastro-intestinal illnesses
Run training courses for businesses and individuals
What we would like from you
Notify us if you or members of your family have had symptoms of diarrhoea, vomiting, stomach cramps etc
Provide details of food eaten up to 72 hours prior to onset of symptoms
Information on premises where food has been eaten outside the home i.e. names and addresses of takeaways and restaurants etc
G.P.'s to formally notify us immediately of any patients that have suffered from a notifiable infectious disease or food poisoning
Food Businesses/Food Handlers
In the event of a food handler suffering from a notifiable disease they must be excluded from handling/preparing food usually until they are 48 hours symptom free. The food business operator must also contact the Service so that we can investigate and offer further help to prevent the spread of infection.
Service Response Times
Achieve standard of first response to service requests within 24 Hours on 90% of the time in 2005/06. Rising to 95% by end of March 2008.
This request is monitored and is part of the Environmental Health & Regulation Division Improvement Plan 2005-2008.
We also aim to achieve the following service standard response:
• Written response to VIP requests for service – 10 days
• Stage 1 and 2 complaints – 15 days
• Stage 3 – 30 days
• Freedom of Information Requests 20 days.
Accessing the Service
The service is a free service available to all businesses and residents of the Borough.
In Person:
The Service has a “duty officer” who is available Monday – Friday 09:00-17:00, the duty officer will answer any telephone calls or personal visits that relate to infectious diseases.
By Writing:
All letters will be passed to an officer to investigate and respond to.
Appointments
Under certain circumstances you can make an appointment with an Officer to discuss infectious diseases.
Eligibility
None.
Required Customer Information
None
Service Level Agreement and Turnaround
The service aims to investigate all infectious disease notifications within 24 hours of receipt
More information about this service
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