TYPHOID EPIDEMIC.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 12 May 1925, Page 5

TYPHOID EPIDEMIC.

THE FIJI OUTBREAK

CONSIDERED TO BE ABATING

1Y CABLE -PRESS ASSOCIATION -COPYRIGHT SUVA, May 11.

There is a. typhoid epidemic at Suva. It is officially reported that 125 Europeans, 10 Fijians and 140 Indians are affected.

The following deaths ar e reported: — Airs French (33), Airs Saunders (32), Airs Darisey (46), Messrs Stanley Taylor (35), R. A. Blanche (15), and Herbert Ewins (15). Four Indians have also died. The chief medical officer considers the outbreak is abating. Temporary hospitals have been opened at the Toorak Methodist School for natives and hoys, and at the Grammar School for Europeans. A doctor and five nurses are arriving on Thursday from Sydney, and a doctor and four nurses will arrive on Friday from Auckland. No 'more cases are officially reported in the country districts. The Aerangi, which is due on Friday from Auckland, will have no contact with the shore, Liking in neither water nor vegetables.

The Suva corespondent of the Auckland Herald, writing under date of Alay 1, said: Suva is having a rather unenviable time of jt just now. Some weeks ago an epidemic of dengue or influenza broke out in the town, and while this occupied the public attention people .were rather alarmed to hear that a mild type of typhoid had made its appearance.* Daily the number >rew, until the hospital was filled, and still cases were reported. There i,s no knowledge of how the infection was contracted, although the medical authorities suspect the Chinese gardeners, and all are warned to leave uncooked vegetables alone and to use only boiled water. The Alunicipal Council is heartily colperating with the authorities. The municipal inspector is making a house to house visit, and all homes from which patients have been removed are being thoroughly disinfected. A very peculiar thing is that no native Fi’ian is known to have been infected. This may he due to the fact that they do not eat Chinese vegetables. Foth Europeans and Indians do so. If we have good rains it is believed that the sickness will pass •>ver. Every time that Suva has ,a dry spell there "is an outbreak of sickness.