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It will be observed that no case of smallpox actually entered the port during
year though certain cases occurred in the vicinity of the port which were
???usly of foreign origin.
A case of smallpox occurred in a Sailors' Home during the year 1947 and is
ported here because of its peculiar circumstances and importance.
A resident steward in the Home fell ill on the 3rd March, 1947 and was
??? to be suffering from influenza. His condition rapidly deteriorated and
consequence he was admitted to the general ward of a general hospital and remained
there, undiagnosed, despite the appearance of a typical semi-confluent
??? rash.
Here then was every element in the making of a severe outbreak of smallpox,
perhaps so much among the seamen visiting the Hostel, since most seamen are
??? immunised against the disease, but among their shore contacts and among
patients in the general hospital.
As far as the seamen were concerned immediate action was taken by the Port
with Staff to secure the vaccination of all the men who had visited the Hostel
who might be potential contacts and this is described in the report hereunder
??? Dring, the Health Inspector who was in charge, under the Medical Officer of
???, of the control measures carried out„
"Case of Smallpox at the Empire Memorial Hostel, Commercial Road,
E.14, (Metropolitan Borough of Stepney).
On the 10th March, 1947, I attended on the Medical Officer at the Office
I and was informed that a resident steward at the Empire Memorial Hostel had been
diagnosed as suffering from smallpox, the date of onset of the disease being
the 3rd March. The patient had been admitted to a general hospital on the 5th
March, with a diagnosis of influenza.
On the instructions of the Medical Officer, I proceeded to the Hostel and
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