PRECAUTIONS AT NAVAL BASE

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 21986, 9 January 1937, Page 14

PRECAUTIONS AT NAVAL BASE

RATINGS RETURNING FROM LEAVE FORTNIGHTS QUARANTINE FOR SOME MEN [THE PRESS Special Service.] AUCKLAND, January 8. Although no request has been made to them by the Health Department, authorities at the Devonport _ Naval Base are taking strict precautions to ensure - that ratings returning frcim Christmas leave are not infected with infantile paralysis or are carrying the disease. Naturally, ratings have been spending their holidays in all parts of New Zealand, and tfiose who have been to the South Island are being kept in close quarantine for periods ranging up to a fortnight. No trace of the disease has yet been found among the seamen boys- and other ratings, but it is considered advisable by the naval authorities to take no chances at all, and so all those returning from leave are being paraded, and are being given gargle and nose spray. They also have to fill in a form indicating in what part of the country they have spent their leave and with whom they have been in contact. ~ When this procedure is completed; those ratings who have not been out of the North Island are being allowed to return to their respective ships, but those who have been to the South Island are being sent to the huts that form part of *he main quadrangle for quarantine. The period of' isolation depends upon the part of the South Island to y/hich they have been. Those who have been to, Dunedin or very close to it or other infected areas will have to complete a full 14 days of quarantine. To prevent their isolation from being unduly irksome, these isolated ratings are having various activities and indoor training arranged f ' them, and they have their own mess. Their clothing is _ being disinfected in super-steam sterilisers. The precautions will be maintained for all other ratings who are, at present on leave, and regular examinations of those being sent to quarantine will be made. The authorities are determined that no infection will reach Auckland through the journeyings of men who have been on leave. SEVENTH DAY ADVENTISTS’ CAMP CANCELLED (PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) AUCKLAND, January 8. In compliance with a request from the Health Department, it has been decided to cancel definitely the camp meeting and conference of Seventh Day Adventists, recently postponed until January 21. About 500 persons were expected to participate in this fixture, but Seventh Day Adventists were glad to co-operate with the department in its measures to prevent infantile paralysis from spreading. js SECOND AUCKLAND CASE (FBXS3 ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) • AUCKLAND, January 8. A young man, aged 24, < who was admitted to hospital last night, has been found to be a positive case of infantile paralysis. This is the second case in Auckland* The man is employed on a farm in an outer suburb. His condition is not serious. The young girl who was admitted to hospital last week is the other positive case reported in Auckland. Her condition has continued to improve. The Auckland Centre of the New Zealand Amateur "Swimming Association has decided to exclude all children aged 16 years and under from its swimming carnivals. , . RAILWAY RESTRICTIONS CHEAP WEEK-END TICKETS WITHHELD Advice has been received from the Railway Department of further restrictions to be imposed on travel. Henceforth, and until further advice is received, no cheap week-end tickets will be issued from stations between Tinwald and Timaru inclusive. Also, the market day fares available on Wednesdays will not be issued from stations in the same .area.