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Statistics, Infectious Diseases, Health Control Unit London (Heathrow) Airport
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immigrants were referred because they appeared to the immigration authorities not to be in good
health physically or mentally.
The practice of examining voucher-holders in their country of origin spread to most of the
Commonwealth countries during the year. The initial medical examination, together with a chest
X-ray, is carried out by an approved medical officer and his findings are subsequently referred to a
medical referee who either passes the voucher-holder or rejects him. A "Form XY" is then issued
to the immigrant on which is indicated by a code letter his state of health. This is presented at the
port of arrival to the medical inspector, who in turn passes the form to the destination Medical Officer
of Health.
Ambulance Cases
Invalids requiring ambulance transport, arriving or leaving the Airport, totalled 1,566; those
using a car totalled 3,508.
Smallpox
There was one case of smallpox imported from Pakistan during the year. The patient was a boy
aged fifteen years who arrived at Heathrow on 24th February by Pakistan International Airlines.
He subsequently became ill and smallpox was suspected on 29th February. This was later confirmed.
On three occasions, it was necessary to call upon one of the smallpox consultants so that the
skin lesions could be inspected and smallpox definitely excluded.
The number of telex communications received at the Airport under the Administrative Arrangements
from countries signatory to the Partial Agreement was 226. Of these, 167 were from Rome,
38 from Amsterdam, 13 from Athens, 6 from Paris and one each from Brussels and Dublin.
Fourteen similar messages were despatched by telex to Health Control centres in Western
European countries.
Pulmonary Tuberculosis
Eighty-nine persons were discovered to have active pulmonary tuberculosis during the year.
The breakdown was:—
Indian 55
Pakistani 27
Hongkong 3
African 3
Stateless 1
Thirty-nine immigrants were refused landing because of the condition; thirty-eight were repatriated
to their country of origin whilst the thirty-ninth absconded whilst under hospital detention.
Ten immigrants with pulmonary tuberculosis were landed contrary to medical recommendation
and the destination Medical Officer of Health was notified on each occasion. Two immigrants who
were so landed were admitted directly into local hospitals.
The total number of notifications sent out to Medical Officers of Health advising that the immigrant
should be referred to a local chest clinic for observation was 253. By the end of the year, advice
had been received that in 40 of these 253 cases, investigations had proved positive.
The breakdown of these 40 cases was:—
Indian 19
Pakistani 16
Hongkong 3
African 1
Stateless 1