PLAGUE MENACE.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17809, 7 July 1923, Page 17

PLAGUE MENACE.

ANOTHER DEATH IN SYDNEY. CAMPAIGN AGAINST RATS. (AUST2ALIAir AXTJ S.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION.) (BI CABLE—PEE3S ASSOCIATIOS —COPTSIOET.) SYDNEY, July 6. The death occurred on Saturday of a young man living at Camperdown. The case ha 9 been diagnosed as septicemic plague. The medical fruthorities, whilst urging strict precautions s gainst the spr:ad of disease, say that on account of the time of the year, there is a reasonable chance of very littlo more. It is believed that the infection lies been lurking in a colony of, rats, and a campaign against the rodents lias been systematically carried out for some time, but at last meeting of the City Council it was decided to discontinue the sixpence bonus. It is thought that the decision will be revoked in view of the fresh outbreak.

The plague victim was employed in a minor Government Department in the city, which has been temporarily quarantined as well as the victim's residence. The rat-catcher's services were dispensed with only last week. The hist plague rat was caught in Sydney during the middle of last July. .besides tha special precautions already taken it is understood that the general restrictions, whioh were lifted on March 31st, will be re-imposed within a few days. Later. The Board of Health states that it has been unable so far to establish the Bource of infection of the fatal plague case, but there is no reason to anticipate a serious outbreak. No other suspicious cases have been, reported.