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No satisfactory conculsion was reached as to the cause of the alleged outbreaks but it was
hoped that the advice given with regard to food storage and handling would prevent any further
instances.
Bacillary Dysentery (suspect)
A Kuwaiti vessel arrived in the Port of London on 14th September, 1972, having made a
direct passage of 23 days from Mauritius. She anchored in the estuary of the river and presented a
clear Maritime Declaration of Health.
On 18th September, 1972, she was boarded by one of the Boarding Medical Officers, following
a call for medical assistance. He found that a Deck Topass, aged 20 years approx., had gone
sick three days previously, complaining of loose stools with blood in them but no vomiting. On
examination there was little to find except a pulse rate of 100/min. and some tenderness in the
Right Iliac Fossa.
Questioning then produced information that a fireman had gone sick with Bacillary Dysentery
(laboratory confirmed) while the ship was in Mauritius. The Master also admitted that there had
been an outbreak of diarrhoea and vomiting involving eighteen officers and crewmen on 3rd July,
1972.
The patient was taken off the ship by ambulance launch and admitted to Joyce Green Hospital,
Dartford, Kent. Full investigations were carried forward to discover whether any causes could
be found. Some persons left the ship between 14th — 18th September before the investigations
started.
Samples of suspected food, water and faecal samples from the crew on board (except one
man) were taken and submitted for laboratory examination.
The Medical Officers of Health of the areas to which the previously mentioned members of
crew and a supernumery had gone were informed and asked to take such actions as they deemed
necessary.
Laboratory investigation of the samples showed all to be negative. Whilst the examinations
were taking place the ship sailed to Antwerp and the Port Medical Officer there was informed of
the situation and the fact that one member of crew had failed to submit a specimen.
The result of the hospital investigation of the patient produced a diagnosis of diarrhoea
from unknown causes. He was discharged on the 6th October. There were no reports of other
cases.
Pulmonary Tuberculosis
A ship arrived in Tilbury Dock on the 20th November from Hull. When boarded by one of the
Port Health Inspectors it was ascertained that one of the crew had been found to be suffering
from Pulmonary Tuberculosis and had been removed from the vessel whilst at Hull. A mobile
X Ray unit had attended the vessel in Hull and most of the crew had been X rayed. The Port
Health Authority at Hull had carried out the disinfection of the cabin, bedding, etc.
It was found that three members of the crew had not been X-rayed in Hull and arrangements
were made for them to be X-rayed whilst the vessel was in Tilbury Dock, the results of which
were satisfactory.
SECTION X
OBSERVATIONS OF THE OCCURRENCE OF MALARIA IN SHIPS
One case of Malaria (seaman) was reported on a ship during the year under review. This
compares with three cases in 1971.
A notice giving advice on the Chief Precaution 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 FOR PLAGUE
No ships infected with plague arrived during the year.
The Fourth Schedule to the Public Health (Ships) Regulations, 1970, reads as follows:—
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