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2. Arrangements for transport of such cases to that hospital by ambulance giving the name of
the Authority responsible for the ambulance and the vaccinal state of the ambulance crews.
A case or cases of smallpox would be removed from the vessel by this Authority's Ambulance
launch and conveyed ashore via the pontoon at Denton and from thence conveyed by road ambulance
direct to long Reach Hospital.
The Port Health Authority would be responsible for the vaccinal state of their Ambulance
Launch crews, while the vaccinal state of the Road Ambulance personnel would be the concern
of the South-East Metropolitan Regional Hospital Board under whose jurisdiction both Joyce
Green and Long Reach Hospitals fall.
3. Names of smallpox consultants available.
Dr. W.T.G. Boul Dr. H.S. Banks Dr. J.V. Armstrong
Dr. W.J. Coughlan Dr. J.P. Marsden
4. Facilities for laboratory diagnosis of smallpox.
Facilities are available at the Virus Laboratory at the Central Public Health Laboratory
at Colindale.
SUSPECTED SMALLPOX— S.S. "IVERNIA"
(a) Itinerary
Sailed London 24.4.59 for Montreal
Called Le Havre 25.4.59
Left Montreal 7.5.59
Called Quebec 7.5.59
Called Le Havre 14.5.59
Arrived Gravesend 15.5.59
(b) Information
Information was received by telephone from the Cunard White Star Line at 10.00 hours on
14th May 1959 that the s.s. "Ivernia" from Montreal had landed at Le Havre a 2nd Class Bedroom
Steward who had been diagnosed by the French Authorities as suffering from Smallpox.
(c) Account of action taken
It was decided that in view of the diagnosis made at Le Havre full precautionary measures
would have to be taken on the vessel's arrival off Gravesend.
To that end Dr. Willoughby (who was on duty) contacted the Customs, Immigration and P.L.A.
and arranged for the "Ivernia" to be anchored on arrival in the river. The ship's E.T.A. was
01.00 hours 15th May.
Arrangements were also made for a team of Clerks (4) and the Health Inspectors to be available
at 08.00hours to check address lists of passengers disembarking and also those ofthe crew,
and for such disinfection as might be required.
Drs. J.A. Jones, P.J. Roden and D.T. Jones were requested to be present to assist in
inspecting all crew and passengers in daylight and perform any vaccinations which might require
to be carried out, but a message was sent to the Ship's Surgeon, asking him tore-vaccinate as
many as possible of the ship's company on the way from Le Havre to London. At their own
request the duty crew of the m.v. "Howard Deighton" were re-vaccinated before the arrival of
the "Ivernia".
The "Ivernia" was boarded off Owen's Buoy in Higham Bight at 00.15, her progress in the
Estuary being reported to us by the new P.L.A. Control Room. This is the first occasion of its
practical assistance being used by our Authority.
On boarding the vessel Dr. Willoughby interviewed the Ship's Surgeon and made as much
preparation as possible for the smooth working of the arrangements to take place at 08.00 later
on that day when the ship would be boarded by the Immigration Officers and the Medical Officer
of Health with the Port Health staffs.
Destination cards for issue to all passengers (468) and crew (437) were handed to the Chief
Purser for distribution at breakfast with instructions by ship's broadcasting system that they
were to be produced, duly filled in, with passports on arriving at Immigration Control tables.
Duplicate address lists of all passengers landing in London and landed at Le Havre were
already available.
At 08.00 hours on the morning of the 15th May, the Medical Officer of Health with Port
Health staffs, including Dr. Willoughby who had met them with the launch at Gravesend Pier
boarded the "Ivernia" off Tilbury landing stage, and after further discussion with the Ship's
Surgeon, the usual arrangements were set in motion, namely
(1) Muster of passengers to file past tables manned by Immigration and Port Health staffs. At
each table a member of the Port Health staff received part of a tear-off card giving passenger's
destination address, the passenger retaining the other part of the card to post to
head office in case of change of address (this is normal surveillance procedure in the Port
of London). Similar arrangements were made with members of the ship's personnel.
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