INFLUENZA AT TAHITI

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 73, 20 December 1918, Page 5

INFLUENZA AT TAHITI

TERRIBLE TOLL ON*NATIVES. The ravages of pandemic of influenza at the.French island of Tahiti, in the Pacific, where the Union Company's steamer Navua was in quarantine, and \ an engineer and four of the crew died, were described to a Dominion reporter yesterday by one of those on hoard the . ship. When the Nnvuo. reached San Francisco from Wellington towards the end of September, the epidemic there was raging furiously. The daily death-roll was very heavy, but official statistics were not .available. Business was practically at a standstill. A thorough check had been placed o.n the scourge, and the beginning of November brought with it a decrease in the number, of deaths. The vessel was in port for six days—discharging and loading-and the climax was Well past when she sailed on November 1 for Wellington, via, Papeete. No cases of influenza are reported to have been aboard when in port. Notice that, the disease had been contracted was given in the cases of four of hve oi the crew, who went down within two days. The Navua was then about a week out. Papeete was in sight ei,ght - days later, and on November 16, the day of her arrival there, seven or eight of the crew were down. _The first . death-that of Mr. •j ,f dwar<is » a young unmarried able seaman, whose parents live in. Ohristchurch, occurred within twenty-four, hours after 'berthing. His was one of the first cases. The death of :Mr. Ldwards and an increase in the number of cases among tho sailors and nremen-both, European and natives--60011 brought about the order that the snip must be quarantined. The Navua left the wharf And her patients were transferred to. the quarantine island in the harbour. On the following day-No. vernber native member of the crew died. Pour days late~r a Maori died, and still four days a,fter that the third death native—occurred. Mr. J. Penman, second engineer, who cied on December 3, was the last. Altogether about twenty-fivo members of the officers and '.crew were, affected. During the two weeks that tho steamer was ut the island fifteen of the ship's company were ill at . one time. The port doctor visited (he quarantined men and those in hospital twice daily, and left medicine and instructions with Mr. Oreswell, chief steward, who, on account of his medical knowledge, was placed in charge of tho sick. All ■ tho crew speak in the highest terms of the good work done by Mr. Creswell. He was ut his post night and day, and they say-that but for his careful and untiring attention more deaths undoubtedly have, occurred. Those who were affected included Captain Doorly, I the fivo engineers, and seamen and firemijn, but the deck officers escaped. Tho supply of drugs was limited, and of the three doctors on the island two were off duty at the samo time, down with influenza. The native population suffered terribly. Fear played; an important part, and as they became infect. Ed, or allowed themselves to believe that they had been infected, they ran away from the' town to the other side of the island and shut themselves in their huts. . Hero many, out 6f easy reach of what possible assistance there was, died. It is stated that the deaths there totalled about 500. The stocks of drugs was replenished by drawing on the medical chests of two . steamers that arrived while the Navua was there.