Infectious Diseases

Investigating Infectious Diseases

Stratford on Avon District Council is responsible for the investigation and prevention of the spread of infectious diseases. Doctors and UKHSA laboratories are obliged to inform us whenever they come across certain infectious diseases.

The main infectious diseases reported to the team are:

• Food poisoning (salmonella species; campylobacter species; viral gastroenteritis; E. coli)

• Dysentery (Shigellosis)

• Cryptosporidiosis

• Giardiasis

• Hepatitis A

Advice notes on each of these infectious diseases are available from the UKHSA.

In every case an attempt is made to contact each patient in order to confirm the facts and to establish how and where the infection occurred. Advice is given on how to prevent the infection from spreading or reoccurring. In some cases this may involve taking action to close an unsatisfactory food premises.

There are many potential sources of infectious diseases as well as food. Illness can also be caused by contact with:

• Animals

• Contaminated water

• Unpasteurised milk

• Occupational exposure

• Contact with other people carrying the disease.

Alleged Food Poisoning

The team receive numerous notifications of infectious disease, of which not all are cases of food poisoning. If you think that you have food poisoning, please contact your doctor and arrange for a stool sample to be laboratory tested. Please be aware that we can only investigate an alleged food poisoning if you believe it is directly linked to a premises in our district. The Food Safety Team investigates cases of suspected food poisoning in order to achieve the following objectives:

• Primarily to prevent the spread of disease, and secondarily
• To see whether any offence has been committed under the food safety legislation

If you believe you may have a suspected food poisoning linked to a premises in Stratford on Avon District, please contact the Food Safety Team.

Avian Influenza

Avian influenza is an infectious disease of birds caused by the influenza A virus. Birds are the hosts for most avian influenza viruses and a variety of influenza subtypes can be found in birds, particularly in water fowl and shore birds. Domestic poultry are especially vulnerable and the virus can rapidly cause epidemics in flocks.

Human infections with avian influenza are rare. However, some viruses, such as H5N1 or H7N9, have been associated with human disease.

The symptoms of avian influenza in humans vary considerably depending on the strain or subtype of the virus involved. Most infections take the form of a flu-like illness (fever, cough, body or muscle pain, sore throat, runny nose). Other symptoms can include conjunctivitis (red, sore and discharging eyes).

For further information on Avian Influenza, please see the UKHSA Guidance.