Wanganui River “Typhoid Source”

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30093, 29 March 1963, Page 13

Wanganui River “Typhoid Source”

Gfew TsstsaS Press AsasotatianJ

WANGANUI, Much 28. Th* Wanganui river, long regarded as th* meet attractive asset of the city, has been revealed as a source of possible disease and death. After the death of two persons from typhoid within 12 months and the serious illness of three others the medical officer of health (Dr. G. R. Jensen) tonight issued a warning that sewage pollution of the river had reached a serious stage.

An outbreak of typhoid had been avoided on the tat oecaaion only because of speedy work on the part et staff at Wanganui Hospital in locating and isolating contacts at the victim, said Dr. Jensen. Typhoid symptoms, however, could take tram three days to three weeks io mart? fest themselves. The disease was eontantous and many people could be affected.

“The city was fortumte tort it did not *read further, and it should be taken to heart as a warning of whrt could happen.” Dr. Jensen People eating their lunches on a grass strip bordering toe river in the centre of the city were sitting only feet away from raw sewerage lying on the river banks. Hies could transmit toe dtaaae to toe flood they were eating. There were 88 outfalls of untreated sewage into toe river, Dr. Jenaen said, and, as the population grew, the risk of infection n>read. “One ease could be sufficient to start an outbreak. We were fortunate last time. We might not be as fortunate next .tone,” he aaid. "It seems wrong to us that deaths should have to occur before something happens.”