Infectious diseases

The Environmental Health team at Shepway District Council is responsible for preventing and investigating infectious diseases.

Each year the team receives hundreds of notifications of infectious disease, including all types of food poisoning. These cases are investigated by the team and will involve discussing the illness with the sufferer to determine how the infection was caught and where.

The team will provide sufferers with information on how to prevent getting food poisoning, hygiene tips for the home and measures that can be taken to prevent the spread of infection.

The Environmental Health team also keeps records of all notifications received each year in order to analyse trend both locally and nationally.

We receive notifications from the infected person's GP or by the Public Health Laboratory service who will inform the Environmental Health team of all confirmed results of food poisoning on samples that they have tested. A faecal sample is the only assured way of confirming the infection, therefore, if you suspect you are suffering from food poisoning you should always contact your doctor in the first instance.

If you have any concerns regarding infectious diseases or food poisoning and require further information you can contact us by post, phone or email.