HC Deb 27 February 1951 vol 484 cc281-2W
Mr. Viant

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that the Medical Officer of Health for Brighton was called on 27th December, 1950, to examine two persons in Bevendean Hospital, that on 28th December he pronounced them to be smallpox cases and that one of them died at Bevendean on 29th December; what arrangements were made for the isolation of this case at Bevendean, and what was the disease for which the daughter of this fatal case of smallpox entered Bevendean on 18th December, 1950; where was the Royal Air Force officer who infected these two people when it was decided to take him to Dartford Isolation Hospital on 28th December; and what information he has as to whether he had been seen by a doctor at any time after his journey to Brighton on 29th November, 1950.

Mr. Marquand

I am aware of the facts stated. The patient who died was admitted to the isolation block of the hospital. His daughter was admitted with a diagnosis of staphylococcal septicaemia. The officer mentioned was at Portslade at the time he was taken to hospital, and had been seen by a doctor at least twice after reaching Brighton.

Mr. Braine

asked the Minister of Health what was the total number of notifications of smallpox for each of the years 1946 to 1950 inclusive; and in how many cases had vaccination been carried out previously.

Mr. Marquand

The numbers of notifications for the years 1946 to 1949 were respectively 56, 78, nil, and 19. The numbers of these cases in which there was information that the person had been vaccinated in earlier life were respectively 42, 45, nil and 7. The corresponding figures for 1950, which are at present provisional, were 12 and 8.

Mr. Braine

asked the Minister of Health what was the total number of deaths from smallpox for each of the years 1946 to 1950 inclusive; and in how many such cases had vaccination been carried out previously.

Mr. Marquand

The numbers of deaths in the five years concerned were respectively 14, 15, nil, 5 and 1. The numbers of these cases in which there was information that the person had been vaccinated in earlier life were respectively 3, 6, nil, 1 and 1.