London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Harrow 1973
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Harrow]
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The ambulance itself and the ambulance personnel were dealt with by the Medical Officer of Health of Brent, in whose area the ambulance station was situated.
| Household contacts | 4 |
| Doctors | 5 |
| Work | 19 |
| Friends and relations | 28 |
| Red Lion | 147 |
| Tradesmen | 5 |
| Edgware General Lab. staff | 7 |
| West Hendon Hospital staff | 2 |
| Ambulance contacts | 14 |
| 231 |
The total number of vaccinations carried out was 3,050.
| Vaccinations | |
|---|---|
| Primary contacts | 231 |
| Secondary contacts | 1,969 |
| Travellers | 850 |
| 3,050 |
Mr. & Mrs. H's house in Wealdstone was disinfected on 5th April
and their bedroom sealed. The two remaining inmates were confined to
the house and food was supplied to them. The inmates were troubled
with frequent telephone calls from newspaper reporters of the national
press. One visited the house against advice in order to obtain an
interview. When he returned to his newspaper office the Editor telephoned
to enquire what action should be taken to protect the rest of the staff.
The Medical Officer of Health in the City was informed. He visited the
newspaper office and took appropriate action.
Numerous visits were paid by the Health Department's medical staff
to general practitioners' surgeries and patients' homes to inspect patients
with suspicious rashes.
The Borough was declared free of smallpox on 20th April. The
household contacts were released from surveillance and allowed to leave
their house. Terminal disinfection of Mr. & Mrs. H's bedroom was
carred out on 24th April. Many articles of personal clothing, bedding
and soft furnishings were destroyed by burning.
OUTCOME : Not a single secondary case of smallpox occurred.