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Terminal 2
Improvements to the ventilation in the Immigration Hall were undertaken during 1972. This
caused a temporary upheaval associated with the installation of new ducting above the ceilings of
the waiting room and isolation room. During this time alternative accommodation was provided
by the British Airports Authority. It is hoped that the Unit's accommodation will benefit from the
improvements to the ventilation of the Immigration Hall.
Terminal 3 (Arrivals Building)
Piers 5 and 6
The conversion of many of the airside finger lounges, from conventional-type aircraft facility
to "Jumbo" jet facility was started in May. The work is not likely to be completed before April 1973.
During this time, health controlled flights, presenting on these fingers, are being checked, by general
agreement, on the galleries of the two piers.
Negotiations between the Borough, the British Airports Authority and the Airlines regarding
the use of desks on these piers was shelved until structural work of conversion had taken place.
In the meantime, the year passed without too many complaints being received relating to heating
and lighting.
North Coach Station
The British Airports Authority in an effort to counter criticism on heating problems in the North
Coach Station laid down a carpet on the concrete floor. This action followed the erection of antidraught
screens between the check desks and the outside doors and was very welcome. Nevertheless
as each winter progresses it is apparent that an adequate temperature cannot be maintained
in this area, and it is usually several days before the authorities can be persuaded to take action
and during this period the staff have to work under most difficult conditions.
Pier 7
The ten "Jumbo" stands on Pier 7 were kept fully utilised throughout the year. Desks and stools
were provided by the British Airports Authority in each of the gate-rooms, the former being screwed
down as an anti-airline security measure.
The two rooms, forming the immunisation unit, adjacent to gate-room 16, were handed over
during the year, but the number presenting vaccination queries arriving on this pier were so few that
it was possible to continue the existing practice whereby the airline representative escorted them
to the medical officer in the arrivals building.
COMMUNICABLE DISEASES
Smallpox
The United Kingdom again remained smallpox-free in 1972. Only on one occasion was it
necessary to call upon a smallpox consultant. The passenger, a school boy aged ten years, arrived
from Colombo via Delhi where he had stayed two nights. The child, who was picked up on account
of a rash during the processing of the flight through health control, had two scars following primary
vaccination at the age of one year and had evidence of having been revaccinated on the day before
arrival at Heathrow. Clinically the child had a chickenpox rash with an equivocal distribution. The
gel-diffusion test was negative for variola and positive for varicella.
In March, there was an outbreak of smallpox in Yugoslavia. On 29th March the whole country
was declared infected and remained so until 9th May. During this time, all flights arriving at Heathrow
from Yugoslavian airports were subject to health control. From Yugoslavia one case was imported
into Hanover, but there were no secondary cases. During this outbreak, the United States and Canadian
authorities temporarily re-imposed their requirement for the presentation of valid international
certificates of vaccination from passengers from Europe.
The number of passengers placed under surveillance for smallpox during the year was 4,354.
During the latter part of the year, health departments in Britain were invited to co-operate in a
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