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s.s. "KENYA CASTLE" - MUMPS
On the 9th May, 1957, the Union Castle Line telephoned to say that a signal from the above
mentioned vessel reported two men and two women passengers suffering from mumps.
They also reported that since the vessel would not be calling at the Tilbury Landing Stage but
would be proceeding direct to her berth at No. 10 Shed, King George V. Dock, they had been in
touch with Dr. Willoughby on the "Hygeia" regarding their disembarkation.
Dr. Willoughby confirmed the above and added that while he would be boarding the vessel on
her arrival at Gravesend at approximately 19.30 hours and would confirm the diagnosis he was
against removing the cases to Denton Hospital via a companion ladder while the vessel was on
the move and that with the Medical Officer's approval he was prepared to allow the cases to
proceed in the vessel to her berth in dock.
Your Medical Officer decided that in the circumstances this was the best course and on
approaching the Emergency Bed Service they immediately agreed to co-operate.
Since the vessel would not reach her berth in the dock until about midnight it was arranged
that the cases would be removed as early as possible the following morning. In the meantime,
and at the request of the Emergency Bed Service, Dr. Willoughby was instructed to obtain the
names and ages of the patients when he boarded the vessel and telephone this information to
the Emergency Bed Service at HOP: 7131 where they have a 24 hour service.
These arrangements were passed by telephone to the Health Inspector concerned at the dock
and also to the Shipping Company.-
It finally transpired that there were in fact only two cases, one male and one female, and
they were removed by Ambulance at approximately 09.30 hours on the 10th May, 1957, to Plaistow
Hospital and Eastern Fever Hospital respectively.
Although the policy of allowing patients to proceed in a ship to her berth in the docks up river
is the exception rather than the rule, whenever the circumstances dictate such a procedure, the
Emergency Bed Service, as your Worshipful Committee already know, have consistently cooperated
with the Authority in a most efficient manner.
THE PORT OF HAMBURG
The generosity of the Port and City of London Health Committee in sending Dr. Jones to study
Port Health Administration in Hamburg has already paid a dividend as is shown by the following
report from Dr. Jones of an incident which occurred recently while he was on boarding duty:—
s.s. "Baltic Trader"
"On Sunday evening, 1st December, 1957, I received a telephone call from the Marine Superintendent,
United Baltic Corporation.
"He informed me that the "Baltic Trader", bound from the Mediterranean to Hamburg, had, on
radio medical advice, landed the 5th Engineer at Dover with suspected poliomyelitis.
"The vessel had resumed the voyage to Hamburg and the Captain was now anxious to know if
there was any danger of delay on arrival in Hamburg as the cargo was perishable.
"I assured him that the Port Health Authority in Hamburg was efficient and that there would
be no unnecessary delay and probably none at all. I advised him to instruct the Master to send a
radio message to Portelth, Hamburg, informing them of the case.
"Shortly after noon on Wednesday, 4th December, I received a further telephone call from the
Marine Superintendent. He informed me, with regret, that the man landed at Dover had died,
despite being placed in an iron lung as soon as he was landed.
The Marine Superintendent had now been informed that another member of the crew had been
admitted to hospital in Hamburg, complaining of pains in the legs. The Directors of the United
Baltic Corporation were most anxious that everything possible was being done in Hamburg to
prevent further cases and were anxious for information about this second case.
"I advised the Marine Superintendent that the matter was not one in which we could interfere
and again assured him that the people in Hamburg knew their job. I said that it was unlikely that
there would be any further cases and that there was certainly no need for any great anxiety until
the diagnosis in the second case was known. As it was feared that they might not hear about
eithe for some days I agreed to consult the Medical Officer of Health to see if he would ask
Hamburg for information. It was understood that the United Baltic Corporation would be happy
to meet any expense.
I thereupon telephoned the Medical Officer of Health and with his authority sent the following
cable to Hamburg, first checking that the diagnosis of the Dover case had bee n confirmed:—
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