FISH MADE POISONOUS BY WAR MATERIALS

Grey River Argus, 22 February 1949, Page 7

FISH MADE POISONOUS BY WAR MATERIALS

LONDON, Feb. 20 Surplus war material dumped in the sea at Fanning Island is believed to have been the cause of mass poisoning among the fish-eating islanders according to the British Medical The journal states that m 1945 the natives' began to suffer from an illness previously unkown on the island, which was characterised by a fairly sudden onset of gastro-rntestintal symptoms. „. , , The illness followed a fish nreal three to twenty-four hours previously. In the following eighteen months nearly half the population was attacked by the illness. Fresh fish was fed to cats, dogs, and domestic ducks, which also became ill with paralysis as a prominent sign. Europeans appeared more susceptible than natives. All the fish which caused the poisoning were caught in areas where surplus war materials comprising metals and condemned food had been dumped in July. 1945.