Niue Isolation Order Defended By Minister

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29390, 17 December 1960, Page 14

Niue Isolation Order Defended By Minister

(From Our Own Reporter) WELLINGTON, December 16. Complete approval of the action of the health authorities during the recent suspected smallpox crisis on Niue Island was expressed this afternoon by the Minister of Island Territories (Mr Gotz). The action included the complete isolation of the island from visiting ships and the placing of a number of island residents in quarantine.

“Niue Islanders, or any other Pacific Islanders, have so little immunity from such diseases as measles and chickenpox, to say nothing of those more serious, that every precaution, must be taken to prevent an outbreak,” said Mr Gotz.

“An outbreak of measles in Samoa a few years ago caused a number of deaths. I believe that the world-wide so-called influenza epidemic, which swept the world after the First World War, caused the deaths of some thousands of Samoans.” Mr Gotz said that he commended the health authorities in their prompt action. It was fortunate that there had been no further case reported in Niue. All quarantine restrictions had been lifted, and those detained had gone back to their homes.

“I would hope that precautions similar to those taken in Niue would be invoked in any island community where a similar situation arose,” said Mr Gotz. “To expose the island population to the risk of a disastrous epidemic would be foolish indeed.” Mr Gotz said that the situation was reported on November 8, two days before the arrival of the Union Steam Ship Company’s ship Tofua. No contact with the ship was permitted except the dropping' of a canister of vaccine to lighters. Two saloon passengers and six deck passengers were carried on to Suva. “Under the terms outlined on their steamer tickets, these persons were responsible for their own maintenance until the Union Company took them to Niue by the first available ship,” said Mr Gotz. “The Union Company carried out its obligations, and there have been no complaints.”