Research

New York (State). Department of Health Bureau of Communicable Disease Control Deceased and Released Typhoid Carriers Case Files


Some content may contain outdated and offensive terminology. See: New York State Archives Statement on Language in Descriptive Resources


Overview of the Records

Repository:

New York State Archives
New York State Education Department
Cultural Education Center
Albany, NY 12230

Summary:
This series consists of information on deceased and released typhoid carriers including initial epidemiological investigation report; memorandums summarizing evidence for chronic carrier status; request for and receipt of legal declaration of this status; correspondence between state and local public health officials; correspondence with the carrier; periodic status reports; and notification of the carrier's death. The investigation report includes vital statistics; possible exposure sources; history of carrier's disease and treatment; carrier's work history; and cases traced to carrier. Records are restricted pursuant to state and federal laws.
Creator:
Title:
New York (State). Department of Health Bureau of Communicable Disease Control deceased and released typhoid carriers case files
Quantity:

9.5 cubic feet

Inclusive Dates:
1919-1989
Series Number:
B0165

Arrangement

Alphabetical by surname.

B0165-05, B0165-05A: Arranged by type of case file.

Administrative History

The State Sanitary Code required the State Department of Health to identify and legally register chronic typhoid fever carriers, individuals whose digestive wastes continually or intermittently contain Salmonella typhi bacteria one year after recovery from the disease or without having contracted the disease. The Department required district medical officers to report quarterly on the medical status of carriers in their districts, and to review the carriers' compliance with Sanitary Code requirements for personal hygiene. The Department provided financial aid to carriers forced into unemployment because they could no longer work at food-handling jobs. It also subsidized gall bladder and bile duct drainage and gall bladder removal for fecal carriers who were willing to undergo major surgery to release themselves from carrier status.

Scope and Content Note

Each folder contains the initial epidemiological investigation report; memoranda summarizing the clinical evidence for chronic carrier status and requesting a legal declaration of this status; the declaration itself; correspondence between public health officials at state and local levels; correspondence with the carrier; periodic status reports; and notification of the carrier's death.

The investigation report includes vital statistics; history of typhoid fever occurrence and vaccinations; possible sources of exposure to and further spread of the disease; circumstances leading to discovery of the carrier; the carrier's work history; household census; cases which have been traced to this carrier; and surgical treatment. Later reports also describe the course of antibiotic treatment. Correspondence pertains to interpretation of clinical data; changes of residence; eligibility for financial aid; and determination of financial agents for elderly carriers no longer able to manage their own financial affairs.

Related Material

B0164 Typhoid fever case report cards

B0166 Typhoid fever case investigation files

B0168 Typhoid fever positive lab reports and

B1068 Typhoid fever carriers case control cards contain case investigation files and lab reports, generated by the State Department of Health, that document the study of typhoid fever

Access Restrictions

Restricted by New York Public Health Law sect. 18 and New York Code of Rules and Regulations part 10, sect. 50-4; by New York Freedom of Information Law (Public Officers Law Art. 6) sect. 87.2(b); by New York Personal Privacy Protection Law (Public Officers Law Art. 6-A) sect. 96; and by the U.S. Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Acct (HIPAA), 42 U.S. Code sect. 1320d-6, and -7.

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