Food Poisoning and Infectious Diseases
What to do if feel you are suffering from food
poisoning?
If you feel that you are suffering from the symptoms of food
poisoning you should seek advice from your doctor as soon as
possible. Once food poisoning symptoms have subsided it is safe to
return to work. However, people dealing with food must not return
to work until 48 hours after the first normal stool. Certain
infections may require medical clearance before returning to work.
It is advisable that people dealing with children under 5, the
elderly or those working with people who may find it difficult to
implement good standards of personal hygiene should not return to
work until 48 hours after the first normal stool.
When will Environmental Health Services become
involved?
Environmental Health Services has a responsibility for
investigating all cases of food poisoning, such as Salmonella,
Campylobacter and E. Coli 0157. Hospital laboratories or G.P’s
routinely refer cases to us.
When the Environmental Health Service
is notified of an infection we carry out an investigation
to;
a. try to establish where the patient contracted the
infection,
b. prevent any further spread of the infection.
How many notifications are received in England and Wales each
year?
How does Environmental Health Services investigate
infectious diseases?
All patients suffering from food poisoning are sent advice
notes about their infection and how it may have been acquired.
Together with a questionnaire asking about foods consumed; and
activities prior to the start of their illness as well as their
occupation, to determine whether they are likely to pass the
infection on to others in the course of their work.
Foodborne infections may often be contracted in the home or
from travel abroad.
If there is any indication that a case has arisen from a food
business within Harlow then Environmental Health Services will
carry out further investigations.
The Service sends a report of infectious disease notifications
received each week to the Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre
(CDSC) in London. The CDSC collate details of notifications
received from other local authorities, enabling them to monitor
trends on a local and national basis.
Where can I get further information?
Advice notes are available from our Food Poisoning and
Infectious Disease Series. For details, click on the required
advice note below.