§ 65. Mr. Sorensenasked the Minister of Health whether the source has been traced of the infection of smallpox in the two cases recently detected in the greater London area; how many cases of smallpox in the United Kingdom have been notified during recent months; and whether the patients had been vaccinated.
§ Mr. Vaughan-MorganFour cases have been notified recently, all in the greater London area. The original source of infection in three cases is believed to have been a traveller from Lagos. The source in the fourth case could not be identified and laboratory confirmation of the disease was not obtained. Of the four cases, one was vaccinated at age five and one after exposure to the infection.
§ Mr. Viantasked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been directed to the conflict of evidence as to the cause of the death of Mrs. Mary Shaw at Walthamstow, the Medical Officer of Health having diagnosed the illness of Mrs. Shaw to be smallpox, but the virus laboratory stating she had not had smallpox; and, in these circumstances, what is to be the cause of death sent to the registrar.
§ Mr. Vaughan-MorganThe certified cause of death, based on clinical findings by the hospital medical staff concerned, is smallpox, although laboratory examination of specimens did not positively confirm this diagnosis.
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§ Mr. Viantasked the Minister of Health how many deaths from smallpox were registered in 1956, and what were the ages at death.
§ Mr. Vaughan-MorganNone.