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On the 3rd September the Ministry of Health stated that the patient's brother and sister, who
were still in Long Reach Hospital, were regarded clinically to be suffering from highly modified
smallpox, and in the boy's case, that this had been virologically confirmed. They, however, had
also been in isolation since the 15th August, so there was no danger that they had infected
anybody.
SMALLPOX - s.s. "ORION"
Reports were received that s.s. "ORION" (Australia — London) due to dock at Tilbury on
29th October, landed a Malayan passenger at Suez after diagnosis of modified smallpox.
The passenger boarded at Singapore on 3rd October and at Aden on 14th October was
diagnosed as suffering from Chickenpox, the Port Medical authorities at Suez later diagnosing
modified Smallpox on 18th October. All passengers and crew were vaccinated or re-vaccinated
on 18th October.
The ship was placed in quarantine upon arrival at Naples and passengers desiring to land
were refused permission to do so, later disembarking with other passengers at Marseilles.
Four members of the administrative staff, together with the two Medical Inspectors under the
Commonwealth: Immigration Act travelled to Plymouth on Saturday, 28th October and boarded
s.s. "ORION" on 29th.
The addresses at which the 1,100 passengers and 663 crew would be staying for the fourteen
days after disembarkation were taken during the voyage to Tilbury where she berthed at 10 a.m.
on 29th October and all names and addresses had been sent to the Medical Officers of Health of
the areas concerned by 7 p.m.
SUSPECTED SMALLPOX -s.s. "PACHECO"
A message was received that a member of the crew of the s.s. "PACHECO" was removed to
hospital at Tarrogona on 22nd October as a case of suspected smallpox. All members of the
crew — there were no passengers — were vaccinated at Valencia on 25th October. ; Instructions
were given for the ship on arrival in the Thames to anchor at Higham Bight, below Gravesend,
pending medical clearance.
The ship arrived at 9 p.m. on 1st November and was boarded by the Boarding Medical
Officer and a Port Health Inspector. The crew were inspected and found to be well; medical
clearance was given at 1 a.m. on 2nd November. The ship berthed in London Dock where necessary
disinfection was carried out.
Names and addresses of members of the crew who were going on leave were forwarded to
district Medical Officers of Health on the same day. Those not leaving the ship were kept under
surveillance on board.
The ship sailed from London on 6th November. There were no more cases.
section x
OBSERVATIONS ON THE OCCURRENCE OF MALARIA ON SHIPS
Twenty-one cases of Malaria (seventeen seamen and four passengers) were reported on ships
during the year under review. This compares with ten cases in 1961.
One passenger and two seamen were well on arrival, three passengers and fourteen seamen
were admitted to hospital and one seaman was allowed to proceed home.
A notice giving advice on the Chief Precautions and Treatment of Malaria is issued by the
Ministry of Transport and should be on board every British ship.
section xi
MEASURES TAKEN AGAINST SHIPS INFECTED OR SUSPECTED OF PLAGUE
The Fourth Schedule to the Public Health (Ships) Regulations, 1952 to 61, under the heading
"Additional measures in respect to the quarantinable diseases" — Part I — Plague, reads as
follows: —
"(1) The Medical Officer may —
(a) require any suspect on board to be disinsected and place him under surveillance, the
period of surveillance being reckoned from the date of arrival of the ship;
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