AUCKLAND'S HEALTH.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXV, Issue 16567, 3 June 1914, Page 2

AUCKLAND'S HEALTH.

PLAGUE STAMPED OUT. THE SMALLPOX EPIDEMIC. [From Our Correspondent.] AUCKLAND, Juno 2. Auckland people have almost' i'orj gotten the plaguo scare of three years ago, but tlio past autumn has provided Iwth a busy and an anxious time for the Health Officer and his stair. It is thirteen yours ago sinco plague first made its appearance in Auckland, and the records show that it has reappeared ever} third year since. Between February and May is the period which has marked its fresh outbreak. The story of tho epidemic in Auckland shows that it was expected to reappear this autumn. That it has failed to do so is a matter over which tho Public Health Office is jubilating. The record of plague outbreaks in Auckland is very interesting. In 1901 there was one case, tho first, then there was a lapse of two years. In the third year (1903) there were three cases, and in 1904 there were two cases. Then followed another break of two years, hut the third year period (1907) was marked by three cases. Again came the two years' rest, but the autumn of 1910 brought three cases, and in 1911 there came the biggest outbreak recorded, with eight cases. The next two years brought the period of rest, and the autumn just over marked the third year period, when, had history repeated itself, there would have been a recurrence. The autumn is over, however, and it is now belioved that tho epidemic has been completely stamped out in Auckland. The District Health Officer, seen this morning, said, that in 1911, when the outbreak was comparatively severe, a very large number of plague-infected rats had been discovered, ' mainly in tho cellars of Queen Street business place?. The last of these, however, was discovered on May 31 of that year. In the remainder of 1.011, 3000 rats wero examined, and none were affected. In 1912, 6500 rats wero similarly examined; in 1913, 6000; and this year to date. 2500. Not one of them has been found to be infected with plague. "It is therefore safe to assume," said the District j Health Officer, "that the disease is no | longer epidemic in Auckland. The j active operations taken by tho City Council and Harbour Board, in conjunction with the Public Health Office, have assisted in stamping out the disease. The fine new ferroconcrete wharves are a great safeguard against the risk of infection from ocean-going vessels."

While plague has been stamped out, however, it is still too early to say the same about smallpox. It is only four weeks since the last case was released from quarantine at Hokianga. "It is too early to say what the position will be in resrard to this disease," said the District Health Officer. " The Natives are now safe, because they are all well vaccinated. If tho European portion of the population were half as well vaccinated as the Maoris are there would be very little to worry about. The recrudescence of tho outbreak in Sydney shows what risks there are, but if the whito people fail to take .advantage of the opportunity to immunise themselves ib is, after all, mainly their look-out."