INFLUENZA EPIDEMIC.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue LXXIV, 25 August 1919, Page 7

INFLUENZA EPIDEMIC.

MR RUSSELL AND SAMOAN REPORT,

(Sf fELEGRAPS—HiEsS ASSOCIATION.) WELLINGTON, Aug. 25. In connection with the epidemic of influenza at Samoa, last year, and the subsequent report of the Commission thereon, posting either the Defence Department or the Health Department as being guilty of negligence in not in-1 forming Samoa of the outbreak in NewZealand, the Hon. G. W. Russell says: "I desire to state that the Health De-. partmem, accepts no responsibility for* the outbreak of influenza in Samoa. This Department has never been in anyway associated with, Samoa, which had been a Defence responsibility throughout. Neither,aa s far a s I am aware, dees the Health Department accept iihe responsibility as to the health of the passengers and crews of outgoing vessels." tt

. In reference to the Talune, which carried the disease, to the Islands Mr Russell points out that when the vessel left Auckland influenza, was not a. notifiable disease.