OUTBREAK OF MEASLES

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22466, 29 July 1938, Page 4

OUTBREAK OF MEASLES

NATIVES AFFECTED AT RAROTONGA MEDICAL OFFICER'S CHANGE OF ITINERARY (PBZSS ASSOCIATION TELEOBAU.) j AUCKLAND, July 28. ! Measles is still prevalent among the natives at Rarotonga, and there appears to be little change in the number of persons affected, according to reports brought by the Matua, which returned from a visit to the Cook Islands to-day. Few if any Europeans are affected. , Although he intended to make the round trip with the vessel, Colonel F. W. W. Dawson, District Medical Officer of Health at New Plymouth, remained at Rarotonga. No official advice has been received at Auckland for fcis change of plans; but it is suggested that he has stayed to assist the resident doctors in their efforts to combat the disease. As a precaution against the spreading the disease to the outlying islands of the Cook group, the Matua followed an altered itinerary. Usually she makes an initial visit to Rarotonga, proceeds to the outlying islands, and then returns to Rarotonga. On this occasion she omitted the first visit of the round trip. The passengers and members of the ship's company were not permitted ashore at any of the smaller islands visited, and the passengers* visit to Rarotonga was limited to a two hours' motor drive round the island.