TYPHOID FEVER

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 266, 6 August 1937, Page 12

TYPHOID FEVER

Great Barrier Island Epidemic FOUR DEATHS CAUSED Inhabitants of Affected Villages Inoculated By Telegraph—Press Association. Auckland, August 5. A prompt investigation by officers of the Health Department at last weekend of a reported outbreak of sickness on Great Barrier Island led to the discovery of an epidemic of typhoid fever there which had caused four deaths and had affected in varying degrees some 30 people. The place most seriously affected is a Maori settlement in Catherine Bay, to the north of Port Fitzroy. Having obtained the authority of the Minister of Defence, Dr. 0. B. Gilberd and Mr. AV. Armour, of the Health Department, flew across last Saturday in a defence seaplane to investigate the position. They found sickness prevalent, both among Maoris and the few whites. In four Maori settlements on Catherine Bay three Maoris and a child had died. Dr. Gilberd and Mr. Armour remained until Monday morning, and during that time they inoculated everybody in the four settle; ments concerned, to the number of S 7. The villages were thoroughly cleaned up, and, in view of all the precautions taken, the Health Department anticipates a rapid subsidence of the'trouble. Dr. Gilbert and Mr. Armour returned to Auckland by seaplane, and various tests made have completely confirmed the diagnosis of typhoid. They propose, if weather permits, to return to Catherine Bay this coming week-end to give a second inoculation in all the settlements affected.