THE PUBLIC HEALTH

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XLII, Issue 9372, 29 October 1921, Page 5

THE PUBLIC HEALTH

PLAGUE PRECAUTIONS. STATEMENT^ BY MINISTER. (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, October 28. The question of precautions against the introduction of plague was raised m the House of Representatives this afternoon ]t>y Dr. Thacker, who asked the Minister of Health (the Hon. C. J. Parr) whether m yiew of the alarming reports from Queensland, he was taking extraordinary, special, and urgent steps m this country for the extermination of the rat. Dr. Thacker suggested also that as it was well known that fleas were the distributors of the disease, he would haye precautions taken m the direction of having all flea-bearing animals disinfected by dipping. The Hon. C. J. Parr said that he was anxiously watching the situation' m Queensland. He noticed with regret that there had been nearly a score of deaths" m Queensland from plague. He had iad an interview with the head of the Department only that morning on the matter. Dr. Valintine assured him that everything which could be done on this side was being done. Precautions were being taken on the wharves, despite the inconvenience that this course caused some people. He recognised, however, that this did not conclude the matter. As he had said before, if the cities did not attend to the extermination of the rat, it would be difficult, if not impossible, to keep the , plague, which undoubtedly existed m Queensland, out of this country. The months which predisposed, to the introduction of the disease through the rat flea were approaching, and he washed to repeat what he had said a month ago about the urgent need for the municipal authorities at the main ports using every endeavour to exterminate every rat that could be found. He remembered that m 1910 or 1911 we did no good until we had gone m for the extermination of the rat. The Depart-^ ment was keenly alive to the position, and he impressed upon them m the strongest terms that it was the duty of the officers to use every possible effort m this matter. He believed they were doing so. It was also for each of the municipalities to take every precaution. Dr. Thacker: You should have all cats and doge disinfected.