Salmonellosis as a Public Health Problem in Wartime

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Abstract
Overcrowding in rapidly expanding industrial centers and constantly shifting population are factors which tend to increase the incidence of diarrheal diseases. Controlling Salmonella infections is complicated by lack of uniformity among states with respect to administrative practices concerning these diseases. During the period Jan., 1937, to July, 1943, 811 Salmonella infections were reported in Massachusetts: 356 epidemic, 408 sporadic, and 47 discovered accidentally. Epidemic cases were caused by 7 types. 70% of the sporadic cases were caused by 4 types: S. typhimurium, S. newport, S. paratyphi B, S. oranienburg. Clinical records of 711 dases revealed 59.8% manifested gastroenteritis, 15.4% continuous fever. S. typhimurium, was the most frequent cause of gastroenteritis and S. paratyphi B of continuous fever. 57% of subclinical infections also were caused by these 2 types. Children were found to be more susceptible to Salmonella infections than adults and infants under 6 months tend to remain infectious longer than older persons. 16 permanent carriers were recorded, 12 of them S. paratyphi B. Persistent convalescent carriers, subclinical and unrecognized cases are more important sources of infection than permanent carriers.

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