London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Willesden 1949

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Willesden]

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17
SMALLPOX.
There were no cases of Smallpox during the year.
Report on Contacts Resident in Willesden of a Fatal Case of Smallpox
Which Occurred on S.S. " Mooltan."
The onset of the above case of smallpox was April 1st, 1949.
Contacts were vaccinated on board S.S. " Mooltan " on April 2nd, and were kept under observation
until April 18th.
The 14 contacts who came direct to Willesden on April 3rd, 1949, were vaccinated on the S.S. " Mooltan."
Another contact disembarked at Marseilles, came to Willesden on April 5th, and was vaccinated by a private
doctor on April 7 th.
These 15 contacts were visited daily by a health visitor until April 18th, 1949. The vaccination was
successful in all these contacts; 2 had a severe reaction, and 5 a mild malaise. All were reported to be well on
April 18th.
In addition, 3 contacts who had travelled to Sheffield came to live in Willesden on April 17th, 1949;
their vaccination had been successful, and they were reported well on April 18th.
Some laundry from the S.S. " Mooltan " was sent to a Hendon laundry on April 5th, 1949. All known
infected articles had been destroyed aboard the ship, but the remaining articles of laundry were regarded as
suspect, 3 Willesden residents who were employed in the receiving department of this laundry were seen daily
up to May 21st, 1949, either by the Hendon authority at their place of work, or by the Willesden health visitor
in their homes, 2 were successfully vaccinated on April 15th, and all 3 were reported well at April 31st.
A contact of the S.S. " Mooltan " died of smallpox on April 10th, 1949; the onset was on April 9th,
1949. The 21 contacts of this patient who were residents of Willesden were vaccinated on April 15th; in 17
the vaccination was successful, and in 4 unsuccessful. These 21 persons were seen daily up to April 26th, 1949,
either by the Wembley authority at their place of work, or by the Willesden health visitor in their homes. They
were all reported to be well on April 26th, 1949.
A passenger of the S.S. " Mooltan " who developed a modified course of smallpox (diagnosed on
April 10th, 1949), attended a medical board at 30, Montague Street, W.C.I, on April 6th, 1949: 5 Willesden
residents also attended the medical board on this date, but only 1 was vaccinated. They were all visited until
April 30th, 1949, when they were all reported well.

They were all visited until April 30th, 1949, when they were all reported well.

Number of Willesden ContactsNumber of Home Visits made by Health VisitorsNumber of Enquiries made by Telephone
(a) Direct from the S.S. " Mooltan " from the Port of London141428
(b) From the Port of Marseilles131
(c) Proceeded first to Sheffield, then to Willesden315-
(d) Worked in Hendon laundry39
(«) Contacts of the Wembley fatal case2128
(/) Contacts of the case who attended a Medical Board5126
Total4720915

Number of Vaccinations.

Vaccinated on board S.S. " Mooltan "Vaccinated ElsewhereTotalSuccessful Vaccination
18244238

SANITARY CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE AREA.
Water.
The Metropolitan Water Board and the Colne Valley Water Company supply Willesden with water
of excellent quality.
Sewage and Drainage.
Most of the sewage of the Borough is discharged into the London County Council main sewers, but a
small amount from the Park Royal area is discharged into the West Middlesex Main Drainage system.
Refuse Disposal.
House refuse is collected weekly—trade refuse as often as necessary; the trader pays an agreed charge.
The refuse is disposed of by controlled tipping at Twyford.
The duty of enforcing the provision of dust-bins is the responsibility of the Borough Engineer's
Department.