DIPHTHERIA OUTBREAK

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3087, 18 May 1917, Page 7

DIPHTHERIA OUTBREAK

TWO NURSES STRICKEN

Reference at hospital

MEETING

L Public Health Committee reported ,to the Hospital Board yesterday that ,there had been thirty-five cases of dipli/thena investigated in Wellington during the month ended Atay 8. . As no special .mention of tho outbreak was made in the committee's report, Air. J. W. M'Ewan wished to % now if the committee had fflono anything particular in the matter. iWas thero not any further information ror the board? v The Rev. H. Fan Staveren (chairman <of the committee) said ho was sorry to

( say that thero had been an outbreak of .this fell disease, asd ' they were doing they possibly could lo copo with it. ■They were trying to get a separate institution for the proper housing ofpati- , silts, but at present, they could;do nothing further. They wero advised that ; these diseases broke out now and again, 'i«md there was ■no accounting' for it. | They were simply combating tho disease, i'and he was happy to say that it was not (spreading. ;. 'Mr- P. Castle wished to know if tho Health Officer. attended the committee i meetings,' and whether any effort had been, made to find out how, and where the outbreak originated, and from what localities the cases were coming. .Ho : thought that tho committee might with ■'the aid of the Health Officer, find put, ;if possible, the; cause of the outbreak. The Rev. Van Staveren:. I'm sorry to say the Health Officer has'not attended ,a. moeti ng for over three months. It : jvas most unfortunate. He was invited !«> attend all meetings, but they could jfflot compel him to attend. . • A. member suggested that .'Mr. Castle ■ meant, the inspector. , The Bev, Van Staveren: Oh, the' inalways with 'us. The Health (Officer is Dr. Sydney Smith, and he has l been'away. The "disease springs pp !,'without a-ny reason. whatsoever. That's 'what Dr. Barclay tells 1 ns. ; Mr. 'M'Ewan: Nonsense! '. Mr. G. Nash: Dr. Sydney Smith has jtbeen away.for three months. Dr. WatJey is'acting in his place; ; Mrs. Grace Neill:' Were any of the •rases contracted within the hospital? law' an Staveren: I'm sorry to' state .•that a few of the oases j were contracted the hospital. Dr. Barclay assures ime that, all possible care was taken. The were nurses-not children. Mr. M'Ewan: How many. nurses haTe Contracted the disease?

The Rev. Van Staveren ; I thint there { are tvro.

/ml ', Campbell wished to know n-he-(tber it was not true that several of the 'cases were being, treated in their own .aomes.and whether it was not compullospita] B '' be treated in the

The chairman: Xo, if; is not compul. aorj. • 1

; The Rev. Van Staveren: The inspeci tor is the officer who decides the matter. Uf in his opinion the home is not a fit OD9 for the treatment of a case it is ordered to the hospital, but if in his opinion the house is one where the complete ; isolation of tho patient can be effected, .and there is no fear of contagion, then jiio advises the medical officer that 1 the I case can remain in the house. . The chairman said that he hoped at next. meeting of tho v Finance Committee to have definite information of a suitable site of land for the diphtheric •Ward,-and possibly plans of the proposed ■new building.