DISEASE BY AIR

Evening Star, Issue 22807, 16 November 1937, Page 11

DISEASE BY AIR

RATS OK MOSQUITOES POSSIBILITIES REVIEWED Precautions against disease being brought into Australia by air were discussed at the medical congress in Australia. Dr F. W. A. Ponsford (South Australia) said that with the development of air transport frontier defence against international exchanges of disease had had to be reviewed. Concern was felt lest with tho introduction of direct air traffic from Africa to Asia mosquitoes infected with yellow fever might be transported to Asia with disastrous results. There was also danger of disease being carried from Asia to Australia.

In regions where yellow fever existed provision was made for the establishment of aerodromes, which were mosquito free, and situated at an adequate distance from the nearest inhabited centre. When aircraft left an area infected with yellow fever an international convention provided for medical inspection of passengers and crew, with a search for mosquitoes on. board, and if necessary de-insectisation. _ Persons suspected of symptoms of sickness _or who had been exposed te infection must remain under observation at the aerodrome or under conditions approved by the sanitary authorities for six days. Although the possibility of a plagueinfected rat being imported by aeroplane was extremely small, he had been told of several instances in which rats had been found on interstate pianos.