The monitoring of foodhandlers in Papua New Guinea

• Published in: Papua New Guinea medical journal Vol. 33; no. 2; p. 99
• Main Authors: Schuurkamp, G J, Bulungol, P K, Kereu, R K
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Papua New Guinea 01.06.1990
• Subjects: Carrier State - diagnosis; Dysentery, Bacillary - diagnosis; Employment; Food Handling - standards; Food Services; Health Status; Humans; New Guinea; Salmonella Infections - diagnosis; New Guinea
• ISSN: 0031-1480

In early 1987 guidelines were re-enforced for pre-employment medicals and 6-monthly health checks on foodhandlers in the Ok Tedi mining project in Papua New Guinea. The health monitoring program was stepped up as a result of two typhoid cases imported from the highlands and catering subcontractors failing to comply with the necessary pre-placement medicals for foodhandlers. Highlanders made up 28% (49/174) of the Ok Tedi catering department's workforce in 1987. The initial screen of 155 foodhandlers and 85 non-foodhandlers in February 1987 showed 6-7% of each group asymptomatically harbouring Salmonella spp. or Shigella spp. A second survey of 160 foodhandlers in August, including private fast-food establishments, detected only one Shigella boydii infection at a local fast-food-takeaway shop. Salmonella typhi was not detected in foodhandlers but was isolated from two non-foodhandlers recently returned from the highlands; in one case this resulted in a contact becoming infected at Tabubil. Infected persons were treated accordingly and foodhandlers were relieved of catering duties until follow-up cultures proved negative. Helminth infections were detected in 38% (309/811) of the stool samples examined. The low prevalence of Ascaris lumbricoides (2.5%) and Trichuris trichiura (1.1%) acquired locally, and a significant difference compared with outside groups supports the view that these species have recently been introduced to the North Fly (Ok Tedi) region. The majority of all Ascaris and Trichuris infections detected (61% and 73%, respectively) were found in highlanders, infection rates ranging from 3 to 15% depending on province of origin. Infections were treated accordingly to prevent possible transmission via food.