TYPHOID FEVER AT KAIKOURA

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25328, 30 October 1947, Page 8

TYPHOID FEVER AT KAIKOURA

WATER FOR CLEANING MILK UTENSILS

PROBABLE SOURCE QF INFECTION Water used for cleaning milk utensils was suspected as the cause of the outbreak of typhoid fever ai Kaikoura, said Sir Hugh Acland yesterday. Sir Hugh Acland, who is chairman of the hospital committee of the North Canterbury Hospital Board, visited Kaikoura this week. A pasteurising plant had been installed, and if milk containers were the only source of infection the problem should soon be solved, he said. The normal incubation period for the fever was 12 to 14 days, although it could be as long as 21 days, and as the pasteurising plant had been operating for about 10 or 12 days it would be some time before a definite opinion could be given. All ordinary patients are being evacuated.from the Kaikoura Hospital, with the exception of those in the maternity ward, to make room for the suspected and positive typhoid cases. Four chronic invalids have been taken to Burwood Hospital, and other patients have been sent to their homes. If it becomes necessary, convalescent tvnhoid sufferers will be accommodated in the isolation wards at Burwood. Sir Hugh Acland paid a tribute to the work of the medical officer of health (Dr. J. H. Blakelock), who has been in charge of efforts to combat the» epidemic. Dr. P. Tripp, medical registrar at the. Christchurch Hospital, has gone to Kaikoura to help the medical men already there.