§ Mr. Viantasked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the Southampton port medical officer of health cabled to the captain of the "Carnarvon Castle" telling him that all passengers must be vaccinated, although at the time it was not known whether the alleged case of smallpox in the ship was that disease or not and the case turned out to be chicken 175W pox; and under what authority was the action of the Southamption port medical officer taken.
§ Mr. BevanThe port medical officer's reply to the radio message referred to in the Answer I gave my hon. Friend on 28th July requested that vaccination should be offered to all aboard who had not been successfully vaccinated during the preceding three months. The port medical officer took action under the Port Sanitary Regulations, the case having been reported by the ship's surgeon as smallpox, and having been diagnosed as such by the port authorities at Las Palmas.