It was possible to demonstrate from retrospective records that a link existed between contaminated animal feedstuffs, turkeys and an outbreak of Salmonella senftenberg infection at Ryhope Hospital. Possibly infected or contaminated turkeys were supplied to the hospital from two turkey farms in one of which the birds were fed on contaminated white fish meal and the other had had infected birds.

This work was carried out months after the events described and would not have been possible without the help and co-operation of the Public Health Laboratory Service, The Veterinary Field, Investigation and Research Services, Houghton Poultry Research Station, The Medical Officer of Health for Brighton, Dr Rosetta Parker, and the various feed companies involved, who very kindly made their records available to us.