MEASLES OUTBREAK ON MATUA

Horowhenua Chronicle, 14 July 1938, Page 7

MEASLES OUTBREAK ON MATUA

.&—. - VESSEL.PLACED IN QUARANTINE (By Telegraph—Press Association.) ni AUCKLAND, Last Night, r t Owifs( to the discovery of a suspected 'iViibh/, of measles among the pasthe Union Company's niotorship Matua was placed in quarantine for part oi' a brief stay at Apia, Samoa, on July G. A passenger—a middle-aged man making the round trip from New Zealand, was isolated, but was reported to be well again when he returned to Auckland with the ship to-day from Apia. The Matua proceeded to Suva, which she reached last Saturday. No restrictions were placed on the vessel there, and after they had been medically examined the passengers and crew were allowed on shore.

Strict Precautions in Samoa No cases of measles have been reported in the Tonga group or in Samoa. According to passengers from Nukualofa and Apia, fairly strict precautions are being taken at Samoa to see that the disease does not spread tSere, as it is realised that the natives have not a strong resistance to its attacks. Influenza in a mild form is said to be prevalent at both Nukualofa and Apia. At Suva a number of cases of measles have been reported, but they are not of a serious nature. To prevent the possibility of the carriage of measles infection from Rarotonga, where a number of cases have been reported, to the outer islands in the Cook group, the Matua will follow a changed itinerary when she leaves for these islands to-morrow. Normally she calls at Rarotonga, visits outlying islands and then returns to port, but on this occasion she WjjU omit her first call and passengers will be taken for Rarotonga.