CAUTION NEEDED

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20507, 18 March 1941, Page 8

CAUTION NEEDED

DYSENTERY OUTBREAK POSITION UNCHANGED PROTECTION FROM FLIES 16 CASES IN BOROUGH “There has been no change in regard to the incidence of dysentery in the town, and the infection is still very widespread,” stated the medical officer of health. Dr. L. S. Davis, when commenting to-day on the position as indicated in yesterday’s notifications. "Twenty-nine cases were reported last week, of which number 16 were in the Gisborne Borough,” Dr. Davis added. "The remainder of the cases were from minor outbreaks in the Wairoa district, where there were, four cases, and on the East Coast, where there were nine.

“Of the 16 cases in the borough there were two families with three cases in each, and of the 10 remaining cases there were three convalescent carriers and two at least were com tacts with previously known cases. “The position, therefore, may be regarded as no worse than previously, but is still sufficiently serious to necessitate the utmost precausions being taken. Necessary Precautions

“The following measures are considered necessary:— “Boil all Milk.—All milk should be boiled when it is received frbm the milkman and then kept in a fly-proof container. The milk should be just brought to boiling point and then cooled as rapidly as possible. The reason for this as explained previously, is not because we have traced any cases to infected milk, but because of the danger always present that a milk supply may become infected. “Protection of Food from Flies. —All food should be carefully protected from flies, especially foods which are eaten in the raw state, and fruit and vegetables which are not cooked should be carefully washed. “Destruction of Flies. —Flies, which are proved carriers of this infection, should be destroyed wherever possible, either by the destruction of the flies themselves of by preventing them from bleeding. This may be done by the burning of all putrifying material and by the beating down and covering with soil of all manure heaps when fresh. Lawn cuttings offer a favourite place for breeding purposes, and it is advisable that these should be burled immediately, before the flv has time to lay eggs in them. I wpuld again stress the necessity, in the unsewered area of the town, of using a little kerosene each day in the privy pan in order to prevent the access of the fly to possibly infected material. Privies should be rendered fly-proof. Preparation of Foot!

“Care of the Hands. —Hands should be carefully washed before food is partaken, or before food is handled in any Way by those preparing it. This is Specially necessary when food which is eaten in the raw state is handled.

“Missed Cases. —Secondary cases are still being discovered in families where previously there has been a mild case, and I would again urge that all cases of diarrhoea be treated with the utmost caution. If the ease is not considered serious enough to warrant calling in medical attention, great care, at least, should be taken to prevent the spread to other members of the family.”