View report page

92
In August one such consignment reached a dealer in St. Pancras, although the attention
of the sender had been drawn to the Regulation, and he had been given definite instructions
not to dispatch them.
The birds (Blue Budgerigars) were packed in a shallow space between two layers of
about 500 Canaries. The space in which the Budgerigars were packed was so small that, of
the 35 birds sent, 15 were dead on arrival, owing to overcrowding. After considerable
negotiation and much correspondence, in which the Ministry of Health took part, the dealer
handed over the remainder of the birds for destruction.
YELLOW FEVER.
A death from this disease took place in the Borough during the year, and, as such an
occurrence is so unusual in this country, inquiries were made as to the mode and source of
infection.
The disease is endemic on the West Coast of Africa, and it has been generally assumed
that it was transmitted only by the bite of the Yellow Fever mosquito, Ædes Ægypti
(Stegomyia fasciata), but it is now known that other species of mosquito can carry the disease.
The case in question did not, however, originate in this manner; the deceased was a
laboratory worker in a research institute in which an investigation concerning Yellow Fever
had been going on for some time.
The virus was kept alive in monkeys (Macacus rhesus) which till recently were the
only animals known to be susceptible to infection.
Early in the investigation one of the medical staff and his laboratory assistant contracted
the disease in a mild form and both recovered.
Some time later another laboratory worker who assisted at a post-mortem examination
on a monkey was infected; this was a very severe case, but he also recovered. About 10 days
later another of the laboratory staff was taken ill. IIow he contracted the infection was not
traced, but it is supposed that he handled some contaminated apparatus. This patient was
admitted to the Hospital for Tropical Diseases, Endsleigh Gardens ; the case was moderately
severe, but recovery ensued.
During his stay in hospital, an examination of his blood was made by a member of the
hospital staff, and this person also contracted Yellow Fever, but recovered. A blood examination
of the last mentioned case was also made, and the person conducting the examination
contracted the infection, and this case proved fatal in five days, although convalescent serum was
used on the first day.
These cases appear to shew that the infection of Yellow Fever can penetrate through
the unbroken skin, and that experimental work and the handling of instruments and
apparatus contaminated with infected blood is extremely dangerous.
I am indebted for particulars of the above cases to Dr. N. Hamilton Fairley, o.b.e.,
Director of Pathology and Assistant Physician to the Hospital for Tropical Diseases, and
Dr. C. M. Wenyon, c.m.g., c.h.e., Director-in-Chief of the Research Institute concerned.
After the occurrence of the last of the above-mentioned cases, it was decided to stop
the investigation, the animal house, laboratory, etc., were thoroughly cleansed, and Dr.
Wenyon stated work was no longer being done, and they were glad to be rid of the infection.