IONIC HELD UP

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 32, 8 February 1927, Page 10

IONIC HELD UP

*K TFLUENZA ABOARD

(By Telegraph.) (Special to "The Evening Post")

. AUCKLAND, This Day Owing to an outbreak of influenza k?u rtL the lonlc ' bathing of the liner, with 528 passengers, including 290 immigrants, which arrived at Auckland earlyi in the morning, has already been delayed for some hours. The steamer dropped anchor ab.out daybreak and the port medical officer, accompanied by the Customs and immigration bureau representatives went out at 7 o'clock. Had all been well the medical inspection would have been completed in little over an hour, but Dr Harke, on boarding the lonic, learned that an outbreak of influenza had taktm place during the voyage. About forty passengers and members o£ the crew had been affected. Fortunately the outbreak was not virulent and there were no deaths, nor has there been a case reported since 18th January. As no notification of the epidemic had been wirelessed to Auckland the authorities were completely taken by surprise. The only course, there-' fore, was to. delay tile berthing permission until the matter was reported to the medical officer of health at Auckland. Dr. Hughes was notified and he went out to the ship. The lonic sailed from London on 31st December with a clean bill of- health. On the second day out a case of influenza was reported, and it was followed by many others. Later. Pratique was granted the lonic, which is expected to berth about 1 o'clock.