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What role does the Council play in investigating any food borne illnesses? |
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We investigate notified cases of food poisoning including Salmonella, Campylobacter, E-Coli infections and hepatitis.
Our aim is to prevent further spread of the illness, find the cause and offer advice to people suffering from these infections.
Notifications of food poisoning (and other infectious diseases) come from G.P's, hospitals and directly from the public.
Symptoms of food poisoning may include one or more of the following:
- Sickness
- Diarrhoea - stomach pains
- Fever- feeling hot/cold
- Headaches
These symptoms are often mild. However, sometimes they can be severe and can result in death unless proper medical care is given.
Children under five years, pregnant women, the elderly, and people with reduced immunity are more likely to suffer sever symptoms.
If you think you have suffered from food poisoning you should contact you GP as soon as possible. An Environmental Health Officer will contact you and take details of your illness, the food you have eaten recently, and ask if someone else has been ill.
If you are still suffering from diarrhoea we may ask you to provide a stool specimen to try to find out what type of food poisoning you have. It may also help us to find out the cause of your food poisoning.
If you have any food leftovers, which may have made you ill, you should put them in a clean, sealed container and keep them in a fridge, separate from other food. The environmental health officer may arrange for this food to be tested for bugs which cause food poisoning.
If you think a food outlet is involved, we will ask for details and may carry out a special.
If you have suffered food poisoning you should not go to work whilst you are ill. You can normally return to work 48 hours after you have recovered.
If you are a food handler, nurse, work with young children or the elderly, you should inform your employer of you illness immediately. Ask us for advice if you are unsure. |
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