NO EPIDEMIC

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 49, Issue 201, 11 June 1929, Page 6

NO EPIDEMIC

INFLUENZA IN SAMOA. (Special to the “Guai.'dian.”) AUCKLAND, June 10. Any doubts left by the sensational allegation euj/anatmg from representatives of the Alau regarding the supposed outbreak of imluenza in Samoa are dispelled by the assurance given by /passengers who returned from. tiie islands by tne Toiua. They reported comparative ireedoni from ili-liealtli among tne Samoans and could deduce no evidence which would justify the alarming report /being circulated.

“There has been no influenza epidemic in Samoa of any consequence,” said Air H. P. Ritohie, retiring director of Agriculture in Samoa, who is visiting tne Dominion prior to taking up a similar office in Tonga. “The usual amount of inttuenza is prevalent and there have been a few deaths, but tii6 position is no worse than in previous years nad need give no cause ior alarm. There is absolutely no truth in the exaggerations published m New Zealand.”

Other passengers expressed surprise that any tears siiould have been felt lor the health of the Samoans. “There was not a whisper about it in Apia, and it is difficult to see how such inaccuracies should have gained currency,” remarked a New Zealander who has siient the last 15 months in Samoa. “lnilucnza is bad in some of the other groups, but in Samoa it is normal for this time of the year.”