UNDULANT FEVER

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXIII, Issue 11829, 10 January 1933, Page 5

UNDULANT FEVER

TWO CASES IN THREE MON TITS

FIRST IN EAST COAST DISTRICT,

RARE DISEASE ATTACKS DAIR Y

FARM WORKERS

The growth of dairy-farming in New Zealand may not prove to be quite as beneficial as is generally expected, for, as present indications show, (it may mean an increase in what was previously a somewhat rare disease in the Dominion, ufidulant fever. Up to tlirco months, ago no cases had ever been reported in the East Coast health district, but since September last two have been notified. Tbe first was on tlie Bay of Plenty side of tlie district, and . tbe second, reported a few days ago, is in the Gisborne-AVairoa area. This disease may be considered, an occupational disease of the dairy-fanning industry, and is due to infection fi°m aborted cattle. The patient’s temperature 1 rises and falls in a very unusual manner, and during the course of the disease there is a gradual wasting away. So far, however, it is mild in type, but nevertheless tlie Health Department is kbepiug a sharp eye on its progress. Undulaut fever was not declared notifiable until 1930', and since then several cases have been reported. These appear to be slowly increasing, all duo, no doubt, to the impetus in dairyfarming.

Contagious abortion has been prevalent among New Zealand herds for more than thirty years, and • all information at the disposal of the Department of Agriculture goes to show chat the majority of dairy herds at the present time are infected. Onceinfected, the cows remain so, and may continue to give infected milk. They may also at the time of calving have infected discharges to which the dairyfarm worker is exposed. For the year ended December bx, 1931, the latest period for which official figures are available, thirteen cases of undulaut fever were reported in the Dominion, of which eigflt we‘e in tlie South Auckland district, two in Central Auckland, two in AYanga-nui-Horowhciiua, and one in Canterbury. ■ Of the thirteen cases, ten victims were males and three females. That undulaut fever may be considered an occupational disease of the dairyfarniing industry is the opinion of Dr. F. S. Maclean, Medical Officer of Health, in an official report, in the course of wliich some interesting information is given. Between August and October. 1931. lie states, an investigation was niaue into the extent of undulaut feve l prevalent in New Zealand. For this purpose inquiries were made from hospital superintendents, pathologists and general practitioners regarding past cases of the disease, and some 109 dairyl’anns were visited and inquiries made as to the existence of contagious abortion among tbe herds, and tbe extent of sickness among the people living and working on the farms.

RISK 01 CONTACT WITH IN-

FECTED ANIMALS

Kor iliv three years elided November. 1931, thirty-six cases of uiidulaut fever occurred in the Dominion. Of the persons affected 27 were males and 9 females, and SO per cent, of the eases occurred in tbo Auckland, Waikato and Wanganiii-Horowhcnua districts. Three cases only "oie icported from the South Island. Most eases were mild in type but one death, occurred. The occupations concerned were as follow: Dairyfarm workers 17. dairy-farmers’ wives or children 4, other occupations lb. Included m the “other occupations” were a veterinary surgeon, a- slaughteiman and a bacteriologist, all of whom bad direct contact with infected cows 01 their discharges. As dairy farm workers represent approximately b pe’ cent, of the total population and the total dairyfarm population only 12.7 of the total population, it is apparent that this class of the community is exposed to a special risk as regards this disease. Infection by contact with infected' animals. must therefore involve a greater than does the drinking of infected .milk, to which the greater part of the general population is exposed.

INFECTION AMONG DAIRYFARM

WORKERS

During the liiquiiy was made regarding the health of C- - farm workers and 322 persons living but not working on dairy farms. Of the 326 workers, 247 gave no history of illness, thirty-one had suffered from more or less* forms of influenza” and forty-eight from other diseases. Influenza is a disease most easily confused with undulant fever, and these is. a great likelihood of mild cases of the latter being rega l cled as influenza by the patients themselves and even by medical men. 01 the thirty-one “influenza” patients, fourteen had been confined to bed for a week or longer, and the remaining seventeen bad also had bed treatment for shorter periods. In two or throe cases the symptoms and course of the illness were suggestive of undulant fever. The '‘influenza” rate of fami workers compared with adult farm residents not working among cows was as follow: 326 farm workers accounted for 31 cases of “influenza,’’ attack rate 9.5 per cent.; 140 other adults accounted for five cases of '‘influenza/’ attack rate 3.6 per cent.

■ Appendicitis, in common with other acute abdominal conditions, is frequently confused with undulant favor.

DISEASE CONFUSED WITH

INFLUENZA

It is evident therefore that farm workers and others cpmipg into .contact' with infected cattle, as compared with the general population, are exposed to very much greater chances -of infection. This may vary from a serious illness of . some weeks! duration to attacks of minor indisposition, or even a complete absence of symptoms. Ambulatory undulant

fever is known to occur, and it is nob unreasonable to suppose that theie exists among dairyfaimers a certainamount of infection hot severe enough to send the sufferer to bed, but sufficient to- cause at least some temporary inconvenience and loss of efficiency. The present tendency to label all minor illnesses “influenza” does- much to obscure the existence of such a similar disease as undulant fever.- 7 ■'