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With this in mind notes were issued to all professional staff of the department upon the
general procedure to be adopted upon notification of cases (or suspected cases) of smallpox,
diphtheria and dysentery. In the first two diseases immediate action is vital, whilst dysentery,
although generally mild, may have serious effects at the extremes of life and may also become
widespread unless thorough preventive action is taken.
The London Borough of Camden has special responsibilities for smallpox, since ambulances
from the Greater London Council's Northwestern Ambulance station in Camden are used to transport
any suspected or confirmed case of smallpox within the Greater London area. Arrangements have
therefore been made, (continuing the procedure adopted by the London County Council) to visit
the ambulance station to vaccinate or re-vaccinate the staff periodically so as to maintain their
protection and in particular to re-vaccinate immediately an ambulance crew returns after transporting
a case or suspected case of smallpox.
Vaccination has also been arranged for the staff of the Health Department, including in
particular, medical staff, public health inspectors and disinfectors who may be expected to be
exposed to infection should a case of smallpox occur in the Borough.
Immunisation against smallpox, diphtheria, whooping cough, poliomyelitis and tetanus
are dealt with on page 61: but protection is also available against other diseases.
YELLOW FEVER
Vaccination against yellow fever is required only by persons travelling to countries
where such protection is a condition of entry, and is carried out only at centres designated for
this purpose by the Ministry of Health. One such centre is the Hospital for Tropical Diseases,
University College Hospital, 4 St. Pancras Way, N.W.I. Continuing arrangements made by the
former London County Council, the Borough Council reimburses the hospital for the cost of the
accommodation, services and materials supplied for the nursing and clerical staff and employs
Dr. L. Roodyn, M.V.O., M.D., as a sessional medical officer to carry out such vaccinations.
During 1965, 8,828 persons were vaccinated or re-vaccinated against yellow fever at
this centre. It is now considered that vaccination against yellow fever gives protection for a period
of 10 years.
CHOLERA
Vaccination against cholera is carried out at the same hospital.
ANTHRAX
A vaccine is now available for protection against this disease which generally affects
animals. It can be spread In this country by the handling of Imported unsterilised hides, hair or
bone. Such materials come mainly from Africa and the East and persons at risk in the Borough are
those employed in the three factories dealing with these commodities.
A scheme providing for vaccination against anthrax has been made by the Council and
approved by the Ministry of Health. The vaccine Is provided free by the Public Health Laboratory
Service from the Colindale Laboratory and vaccination may be carried out either by general practitioners
or by the staff of the Department. Vaccination was offered by the Health Department to
each of the three firms, and detailed information was sent to the doctor employed by two of these
firms. It is understood that vaccination was provided by him for the two firms concerned.
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