HC Deb 05 May 1949 vol 464 cc1202-3
37. Sir Jocelyn Lucas

asked the Minister of Health what precautions were taken on s.s. "Mooltan" to prevent the spread of smallpox; and whether any safeguards were taken to prevent risk of infection to the 400 dockers who had to board the ship.

Mr. Bevan

The first case of smallpox was not diagnosed till the ship reached port, so that no precautions had been taken while it was at sea beyond isolating the passenger concerned, who was judged to be suffering from chicken-pox. No dockers or other persons were allowed on board until the port medical authorities were satisfied there was no risk of infection.

Sir J. Lucas

In view of the very widespread anxiety felt by everybody that these contacts were not even checked to see where they had gone, would the Minister publicise the fact that in future every possible precaution will be taken?

Mr. Bevan

The hon. Member is inaccurate in his statement. The passengers had been disembarked and had dispersed among the civilian population before the port medical authorities knew that a case of smallpox had occurred on board ship. Immediately, all first contact cases were traced, and secondary contacts are under supervision.

Mrs. Braddock

Is my right hon. Friend aware that a smallpox contact case can refuse vaccination? In view of the widespread anxiety over this matter, will my right hon. Friend give consideration to some method whereby some action can be taken in the case of a person known to be a contact who refuses vaccination?

Mr. Bevan

This involves the very serious matter of the liberty of the subject, and I should not like to give an off-hand reply to it. We cannot, obviously, without the most careful consideration and legal safeguards, push needles into people whether they want to have them pushed in or not.

Sir Ralph Glyn

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether it is not incumbent on a ship's doctor to make a report if smallpox breaks out?

Mr. Bevan

Apparently in this case the doctor diagnosed wrongly.

Dr. Segal

Could my right hon. Friend say where the original case of smallpox actually caught the infection?

Mr. Bevan

No, I could not, because that would mean not only tracing the passengers to where they are in this country, but tracing them wherever they have gone, and our Health Service does not extend as widely as that yet.

Mr. Shephard

In similar cases in the future will the Minister not publish a full statement in the Press to allay the anxiety of the public, who have been waiting until this present moment for some explanation?

Mr. Bevan

On the contrary, as soon as the information was obtained, as I have already said, the first contact cases were discovered with remarkable rapidity by the authorities responsible, and I think that, in the circumstances, the officials responsible for this work should be commended for the alacrity with which they acted when they knew that the infection had been taken.

Mrs. Braddock

Further to my right hon. Friend's answer to my first supplementary question, would he not look at the regulations with regard to tuberculosis cases who refuse treatment, to see if something can be done along the same lines with regard to smallpox cases?

Mr. Bevan

I will certainly see whether it is possible to exercise a little more control over cases of infection of this sort where we know that the period of incubation has not yet been completed and the individual concerned will not take medical precautions; but we must be very careful indeed that we do not give to officials high-handed powers to act over the lives of private citizens.