SICKNESS ON GREAT BARRIER

Evening Star, Issue 22720, 6 August 1937, Page 14

SICKNESS ON GREAT BARRIER

TYPHOID EPIDEMIC AMONG MAORIS PROMPT ACTION BY HEALTH DEPARTMENT [Per United Press Associations] AUCKLAND, August 5. Prompt investigation by officers of the Health Department during last week-end of the reported outbreak or sickness on the Great Earner Island led to the discovery of an epidemic of typhoid fever there, which had already caused four deaths and had affected, in varying degrees, some 30 persons. _ Tho place most seriously affected is the Maori settlement in Catherine Bay, to the north of Port Fitzroy. Haying obtained the authority of the Minister of Defence, Dr C. B. Gilberd and Mr W. Armour, of the Health Department, flew across last Saturday in a Defence Department’s seaplane to investigate the position. They found sickness prevalent among Maoris and a few whites. In four Maori settlements on Catherine Bay three Maoris and a child had succumbed to it. ■ . Dr Gilberd and Mr Armour remained until Monday morning, and during that time inoculated everybody in the four settlements concerned to the number of 87. The villages were thoroughly cleaned up, and in view of all the precautions that have, been taken the Health Department anticipates a rapid abatement of the trouble. Dr Gilberd and Mr Armour returned to Auckland by seaplane, and various tests made have completely confirmed the diagnosis of typhoid. They propose, if tho weather permits, to return, vo Catherine Bay this coming week-end to give a second inoculation in all the settlements affected.