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Bacteriological examination of the water specimens proved negative, but two of the men still
on board were found to be 'carriers' of the organism of paratyphoid B fever. One of these men had
had the disease and recovered, but the second one was not one of the 7 original cases. It is
perhaps significant that he was the galley boy.
In the meantime, and before the above results became available, the ship had sailed for
Gothenburg. The Port Medical Officer there was kept informed by cable of all the developments
as they occurred and the Norwegian Health Services' representative in London agreed to notify
the authorities in Oslo (which was the ship's home Port and to which she was proceeding to
finish her voyage).
This incident is a classic example of the way in which potential epidemic conditions can
develop very rapidly in a closed community and of the way in which stringent precautions can nip
the outbreak in the bud before it has time to develop and to spread beyond the confines of that
community. There is no evidence that the paratyphoid fever was contracted by anybody in this
country as a result of the outbreak on the ship.
SECTION VIII
VENEREAL DISEASE
Venereal Disease is not compulsorily notifiable to Medical Officers of Health but efforts are
made both by the Boarding Medical Officers and the Port Health Inspectors to bring to the notice
of seamen using the port the facilities available for free treatment and the importance of obtaining
skilled treatment as early as possible.
Should there be a known case, it is usually possible to arrange for the patient concerned to
be taken at once to the nearest clinic of the Seamen's Hospital or other hospital in the vicinity of
the ship.
SECTION IX
CASES OF N0TIFIA3LE AND OTHER INFECTIOUS DISEASES ON SHIPS
TABLE D