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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. J.V. Armstrong Dr. H.S. Banks Dr. J.D. Kershaw
Dr. W.J. Coughlan Dr. W.T.G. Boul Dr. J.P. Marsden
Dr. A. Melvin Ramsay
4. Facilities for laboratory diagnosis of smallpox.
Facilities are available at the Virus Laboratory at the Central Public Health Laboratory
at Colindale.
Suspected Case of Smallpox on m.v. "JALAGANGA"
The m.v. "Jalaganga" of Bombay arrived in London on 9th January from Tuticorin, Aden and
Port Said.
A steward was reported to have been ill during the voyage towards the end of December. The
Boarding Medical Officer who saw the case on arrival believed that he had recovered from an illness
which may have been smallpox. The Smallpox Consultant concurred in this diagnosis. The
patient was removed to Denton Isolation Hospital and the vessel was given modified pratique and
proceeded to Surrey Commercial Docks.
Though the 57 members of the crew were in possession of valid International Vaccination
Certificates they were revaccinated on the morning of 10th January as well as two Customs Officers
and a ship's agent who had been detained on board the vessel overnight. The Medical Officer
of Health, accompanied by the Boarding Medical Officer, then went to Denton Hospital to see the
patient. The case was complicated by infected impetigo and eczema but there were scars and
staining desquamation of a distribution consistent with healed modified smallpox. The Ministry of
Health were informed of the diagnosis "a recovered case of suspected smallpox".
After the crew were vaccinated the vessel was given free pratique, the crew being mustered
daily for inspection until 14th January when the vessel sailed for Avonmouth, the Medical Officer
of Health having been previously notified of the circumstances.
Smallpox — Tanker "3 order Pele"
On Wednesday, 15th April, 1964, information was received from the Ministry of Health that on
10th April, 1964, an Indian seaman was landed at Suez from m.v. "Border Pele" suffering from
suspected smallpox. This diagnosis was later confirmed as smallpox. The Asian crew had joined
the vessel at Bombay on 23rd March. The tanker left Mena al Ahmadi with a cargo of Gas Oil on
30th March. The patient felt slightly unwell on 5th April, and reported ill with a rash and tempperature
on 6th April. He was considered to be suffering from chickenpox and isolated in the Ship's
Hospital. On 10th April, he was seen by a Medical Officer at Suez and diagnosed as suffering from
smallpox and landed. All the crew comprising 16 British Officers and 47 Asians were re-vaccinated.
The m.v."Border Pele" was due at the Isle of Grain on 20th April and arrangements were made
for her to be boarded at the Nore.
On arrival off the Isle of Grain the vessel was anchored in the evening at the Nore and was
boarded by the Medical Officer on duty from "Hygeia",two Port Health Inspectors and a Clerical
Officer, together with the Medical Officer B.P. Refinery, at approximately 19.00 via the launch
"Humphrey Morris". All the members of the crew were examined and re-vaccinated. The Port
Health Inspectors disinfected the Ship's Hospital and the cabin occupied by the case, and disinfection
of bedding etc. set under way, these being removed to the "Humphrey Morris" for transportation
to Denton Hospital for disinfection. Surveillance particulars were taken of those going
on leave before the ship went alongside her berth. Two Officers were found to have raised temperature
and mild rash. It was decided to allow modified pratique and let the vessel proceed to
her berth at No. 6 Jetty Isle of Grain and to enforce strict security on arrival.
The Two Officers were re-examined on the 21st April and it was decided to remove them to
Long Reach Isolation Hospital, Dartford, by arrangement with the Small-pox Consultant.The routine
surveillance procedures were applied to the members of crew going home on leave as well as the
crew detained on board, and disinfection completed.
On surveillance on 23rd April, a member of Asian Crew was found to have a temperature and
he was admitted to Long Reach Hospital, the usual disinfection procedures being carried out.
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