TYPHOID AMONG MAORIS

Evening Star, Issue 19892, 14 June 1928, Page 3

TYPHOID AMONG MAORIS

“ CaHTACTS " MIXING WITH PEOPLE LITTLE RIVER RESIDENTS ALARMED (I'ea United Press Association.] CHRISTCHURCH, June 14. The residents of Little River and the surrounding districts are becoming alarmed at the continuance of the epidemic of typhoid fever among the Maoris. , The Wairewa County Council decided at its last meeting to wire to the Minister of Health urging that drastic measures be taken to make thorough inspections of ,the dwellings where typhoid has occurred, and to prevent the spread of the disease. Councillors pointed out that ‘ contacts ’ were mixing with noeple at all gatherings in the township, playing football! and two tangis had been held where the deceased had died of typhoid. The epidemic had been going on for some months, and recent notifications showed that the precautions taken had not stopped its spread. One resident had caught the disease, and had been in Christchurch HospiUl for some weeks. The spread of the disease was viewed with alarm. INSANITARY HABITS A CONTAMINATED WELL. “The insanitary habits of the Maoris are _ the cause of the outbreak of typhoid fever at Little River,” said Dr Telford, medical officer of health today. “A well was contaminated through the habits of the Maoris. It is now being filled in. Their insanitary habits have caused a nuisance round the_ public hall, and the department is asking the co-operation of the white population to stop it.