TYPHOID SUSPECTS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 44, 21 January 1936, Page 6

TYPHOID SUSPECTS

CASES FROM FOXTON. AUTHORITIES ACTIVE. Suspicions held that an outbreak of typhoid fever at Otakelio, Taranaki, among Maoris might have some connection with the suspected cases brought from Eoxton to the Palmerston North Hospital for observation were allayed by Mr W. J. Guinau, health inspector stationed at Levin, in commenting on the possibility’ of “carriers” having passed from one district to another. The family at present in the Palmerston North Public Hospital. he said, had come originally from Bulls and had been living at Springhills, about three miles away from Paroutowhao pa. It was an isolated outbreak and proper control had been observed. In view of the tact that a gathering of possibly 5000 Maoris was to take place at Otaki about the first week in March on the occasion of the opening of the new Raukawa meeting-house, the .health authorities had decided, purely as a precautionary measure, to innuculate 30 or 40 Maoris who were neighbours of the suspected carriers at present in hospital, in this way the chance or an outbreak starting among the Maoris who would be camped for ten days at Otaki, when the ceremony in connection with tire opening oi tue nieating-iiouse was being held, would be effectually minimised.

Speaking of the prevalence of sickness among the Maoris in this district, Mr Guinun said a report prepared by him' and suunntteu recently to the Palmerston North Hospital Board showed tiiat the position was disquieting- There was a considerable amount or sickness, influenza anil various skin diseases, but the health uutuorities were constantly moving about tlie district.

He would not like to say, however, that in his district, illnesses among the Maoris were being deliberately suppressed and patients secluded in then- homes or removed elsewhere, Mr Gu.nau added. There was a tendency among the Maoris, due to stress oi circumstances, to try and nurse themselves. Many of die men were on relief and in country areas doctors’ fees on account of the mileage involved acre apt to be considerable. Consequently. the Maoris tried to cure themselves; sometimes tuey were successful and other times they were not. Thus when a doctor was called in it was oiteu too late and the patient died. The attitude of the Ratana followers who did not believe in doctors and the Government’s social service was another difficulty the authorities were facing. There had been no further cases where typhoid was suspected, Mr Guinan said in conclusion, and he did not think there would be. No definite conclusions are yet available concerning the three suspected cases in tlie Palmerston North Hospital. The chairman (Mr J. Iv. Hornblow) and managing-secretary (Mr A. J. Phillipps), of the board, are proceeding to Wellington on Thursday to interview the Director-General of Health (Dr. M. H. Watt) concerning sickness among Maoris, and also the building scheme at the Hospital. Mr S. B. Reed, senior health inspector stationed at Palmerston North, whose district covers the counties of Manawatu, Oroua, lvairanga, Kiwitea, Pohangina, Woodville and Pahiatua, said that there had been no suppression from the health authorities of illness among Maoris in his district. There had been an epidemic of colds at Onepuhi and Kakariki, and as a result he and tlie district nurses had been in close touch with the natives, and all had recovered. There were no cases or suspected cases of typhoid in the area under his control.