BUBONIC PLAGUE

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 303, 16 September 1921, Page 5

BUBONIC PLAGUE

OUTBREAK IN SOUTH BRISBANE A DEATH REPORTED . ~~~~ i '■* By Telegraph—Pres* Association—Oonyright . Brisbane, September 15. An outbreak of bubonic plague is announced at South Brisbane. Orie death i has been reported. Tho Health authorities concealed the matter for twenty-one days. Investigations proved six rats to be infected.—Press Assn. NO NEED FOR PUBLIC ALARM CAMPAIGN AGAINST RATS. Brisbane, September 15. The plague victim was an employee in a produce store. Besides the six infected rats found in South Brisbane, two were caught in North Brisbane area' with suspicious symptoms. The Home Secretary announced in the Legislative Assembly that there was no need for public alarm, as fifteen days had elapsed since the original case, and no more suspicious cases had been reported since. Action is being taken to destroy rats on the waterfront and in warehouses, and other precautionary and restrictive measures are being enforced. —Press Assn. CONFERENCE OF AUTHORITIES. (Rec. September 15, 9.45 p.m.) Brisbane, September 15.’ A conference between the-Home Secretary, the Health Commissioner, and the Federal quarantine officer discussed' ,ttie plague outbreak. They announced subsequently that there was no justification for any scare, as probably the difficulty would bo surmounted without any further human case occurring. Citizens are co-operating in rat destruction. A crusade was launched nt the end of August, although the people were not then aware that, the activity was due to plague.—Press Assn. CONCEALMENT T CONDEMNED •' ! VALUABLE TIME FOR PREVENTIVE MEASURES LOST. (Rec. Septembei- 15, 9.45 p.m.) Melbourne, September 15. Dr. Cumpston, Director of Publie Health, vigorously condemned the Queensland authorities for concealing the case of bubonic plague,,as a most valuable period for the prevention of the spread of the disease bar> been lost. He added that although the necessary precautions were now being taken, it was quite possible that the disease had already made its way to other Australian ports, as the result of the delay by the Queensland Government.—Press Assn. PRECAUTIONS IN SYDNEY. • Sydney, September 15. ’ Strict precautions are, to be adopted with vessels from Brisbane, in view of the outbreak of plague.—Press Assn.