Mexborough & Swinton Times, February 25, 1927

Smallpox Epidemic.
Increasing at Denaby and Conisborough.

In Quarantine

Familiar Sights at the Conisborough Isolation Hospital

The end of the smallpox epidemic is not yet in sight, though in Mexborough only six cases had been notified this week up to last evening, against 15 last week. On the other hand, the epidemic is increasing at Denaby and Conisborough. There were 70 cases there from January 1 up to last Saturday, and this week 19 more had to be added to the total.

At Swinton only three cases were reported for this week at the meeting of the Urban Council on Wednesday, making a total of 44 during the present outbreak. In the outbreak last year Swinton had a total of 50 cases. 20 of the 44 in the recent outbreak are children of school age.

At Mexborough there fresh cases are mild in type, but in spite of the reduced numbers of notifications this week the medical officer, Dr J. J. Huey, does not think it can yet be said that the epidemic is decreasing. Dr Huey emphasises that there regulations he is carrying out in notifying employees of men who have become infected or our contacts, are those of the Ministry of Health, which way he is obliged to obey.