4 - The medical officer of health, the media and the public in the Aberdeen typhoid outbreak

Summary

Introduction

This chapter expands the account of the local dimensions of the Aberdeen typhoid outbreak, and focuses upon the media role of the MOH, Ian MacQueen. It provides further insights into the actions of the health and welfare department, especially in terms of advising the public, and gives some indications of the experiences of Aberdeen's population. We will explore MacQueen's involvement with the media largely by examining the coverage that arose from his press conferences, held once or twice daily from 22 May to 19 June, but will also refer to some oral history and archival evidence. We will concentrate upon reports in Aberdeen's P&J and EE, which served as a means of interaction between MacQueen and the local population. Coverage in the Sunday papers will be included, since it provoked comment from MacQueen and civic leaders on several occasions. In the Milne report, as we will see in Chapter 6, MacQueen was condemned for his alleged extravagant use of the media, which was blamed for the sensationalisation of the outbreak. At the end of this chapter we will see, however, that during the outbreak SHHD officials remained sympathetic towards MacQueen regarding the pressure he was under from the media, and largely supportive of his strategy throughout the outbreak.

The press coverage arising from MacQueen's press conferences may be considered in three overlapping phases. During the first, prior to about 29 May, the conferences were the main source of information about the outbreak. MacQueen's statements and predictions dominated the headlines, and he came under pressure from journalists, and Aberdonians via letters to the newspapers, to release more information about the source of the outbreak, and further advice about the symptoms and prevention of typhoid. Faced with an unplanned and unknown situation, his handling of the press and the public appears to be largely reactive during this phase. As he responded to criticism he began to receive more positive and supportive coverage.