SAMOAN EPIDEMIC.

Northern Advocate, 18 August 1919, Page 3

SAMOAN EPIDEMIC.

"NO DOUBT WHATEVER '

INTRODUCED BY TAtLUNE,

POPULATION LOSS 19.620 PER CENT.

COMMISSION'S RI'TORT.

In its report on the pneumonic influenza epidemic which swept the islands of Western Saaiioa, the Commission ('Messrs G. Eliiot, T. Wilson, and Lieut.-Col. Moorhouie), present the following salient points, inter alia.'

The whole of the evidence goes to prove 'that there was no epidemic pneumonic influenza in the islands of Western Samoa prior to the arrival of the Talune from Auckland on Thursday, 7th November, '.MIS (Samoan time); that the day following its arrival a lady passenger died of pneu taonic influenza; that in two days after its arrival a male passenger by the same steamer rtiei of the same disease; that in. seven days after its arrival pneumonic influanza was epidemic in Upolu; that it spread with amazing rapidity throughout Upolu, and later throughout Savaii. the other island of Western Samoa, distance from Upolu at the nearest point about twenty miles; that up to the 31st December, 191S, 7542 persons died of influenza or as a consequence of the prevalence, of influenza. The table showing- the percentage of epidemic deaths to Hie* total population is as follows:--Upolu. Savuii. All Samoa Men 8.678 8.3.\S 3 508 Women .. 7.180 6.9 U- 7.049 Children .. 4.257 a.S.IS 4.063 Totals .. 20.115 19.001 19.620 Total loss of population is 19.620 per cent. We would point out that it is asserted, and we believe the assrtion to be true, that the death-rate, especially of natives, subsequent to December, and for the following months, was so abnormally high that it might be safe to assume the total deaths in Samoa attributable to influenza totalled 8500. En addition to this, many people are even now suffering from the afteraffects of the disease, while others are totally or partially.incapacitated.

In otiv opinion that is no doubt whatever that epidemic pneumonic influenza was introduced into Western Samoa by the s.s. Talune on the 7tn November, 1918, Samoan time (Slh November, New Zealand time). CASES ABOARD. The Talune left Suva on the sth November, and arrived at Levuka the following , morning, where she was again quarantined. She left Levuka the same evening - for Apia, arriving , there on the morning of the 7th November, 1918 (Samoan time . The anchor was dropped at 9.35 a.m. At least six of- the passengers had influenza on arrival at Apia, certain members of the crew were unwell, and a number of the Fijian I'abourers were "sick." Three of the passengers were seriously affected. Certain of the passengers considered it doubtful if they would be allowed to land without first spending some time in quarantine. We find that no entry was made in the official log of the Talune on her voyage to Apia of any sickness on board as required by section 4, subsection (5), of the Statutory provisions relating to official logs.

The Port Health Officer, Captain Atkinson, arrived on board shortly after the ship was anchored, and an examination of passengers and crew was made in the manner customary there—that is, each person passed in review before the medical officer while his or her naime was checked off the list.

The evidence shows that the second officer was ill in bed, and went back to bed after examination, while three of the passengers were (manifestly un well. . Captain Atkinson advised one of the passengers, Mrs Chui'ehward's maid, to g-o home, promising to visit her later in the day, which promise he carried out. She died the following day. The stewardess also nformed 'Mrs Churchward that her maid was dangerously unwell, and should receive immediate medical attention on shore. Another passenger, the Rev. Mr Cane, after visiting the Bank of .New Zealand and calling on a, trader on urgent business, went straight to the hospital in a high, state of fever and was seriously ill there. He ultimately recovered and rendered g-ood service in ministering , to the sick both ■in Upolu and Savaii. Another passenger, Mr John Ah Sue, died two days after leaving the ship. CONFUSION AND IGNORANCE. In connection with this particular voyage, there are one or two striking , points which, we would respectfully bring before your notice: —

1. That, notwithstanding the fact that influenza had broken out in a serious form in New Zealand prior to the sailing of the Talune for Apia and way-ports, and was prevalent in Auckland, a clean bill of health was given to the ship, and no mention- of this was made thereon. It is true influenza was not , a notifiable disease at that particular time, but nevertheless we are of opinion that some mention should have been made of the above condition on the bill of health, especially as the Talune was bound for the islands. Medical men, at least, should have known the serious susceptibilities of a native population to even minor diseases which, in the 'ordinary "course, cause little or no mor tality amongst Europeans.

2. That the fact that passengers and crew were quarantined at both Suva and Levuka was not mentioned by the captain of the ship to the Health Officer at Apia..

3. That, notwithstanding- the fact that influenza in New Zealand became. a notiiiabie disease by Proclamation dated Oth November, 1918, no information whatever, either from the Health Department or the Defence Department, was radiographed to Samoa.

4. That at that particular time a number of New Zealand soldiers were on duty in Western Samoa.

o. That Captain Atkinson stated that had he known that influenza had become a "notifiable" disease in New Zealand he would not have passed the ship.

6. That Captain Atkinson had no previous experience in connection with the duties of Port Health Officer, nor had he received any instructions from the Principal Medical Officer on t;ue .matter. 7. That both the Principal Medical Officer, Surgeon-General Skerman, and Captain -Atkinson, on. the 7th November, 1918, were unaware of the existence of any local port regulations, nor had they made any inquiries regarding , same. 8. That generally, as far as regulations governing the port are concerned —and in this report we are anxious to deal only with matters inside the scope of our Commissiqa —the wtxtt'ost f confusion reigned. One Department carried out the law as laid down by the Tripartite Government Regulai tiohs/<V_lß9l-1894; another, those brought in.t.o force by the German Oroveroiment; while the Principal I Medical Officer considered he was working under New Zealand regulations. SWIFT DECRIMATION. The "Talune" left Apia on her return journey to Auckland, via Vavau, Haapai, Nukualofa, and Suva, on Friday, the Bth November, 1918 (Samoan time). Two days later, and at the first port of call, viz., Vavau, seventy out of the eighty-five Fijian labourers were suffering from influenza. Fifteen of them died after arrival at Suva and while in quarantine. , The soldiers who were returning to Auckland from Apia died after leaving Suva, and were buried at sea, while several passengers died efter the steamer arrived at Auckland^ WHAT LOGAN DIDN'T DO. L We are of opinion that had the temperatures of all the passengers and crew been taken when the Talune arrived in the Apia Harbour on the 7th November last no qualified Port Health Officer could have granted immediate pratique without being guilty of criminal carelessness.

With reference to the extension of the epidemic: As pointed out, the disease spread with startling rapidity, and with appalling results. On the 206h November the much-discussed radiogram arrived from the United States Governor at Pago Pago for the American Consul at Apia. It reads as follows:— Government American Consul, : Apia. Greatly regret to learn of severity of and extend sympathy and hopes speedy recovery for Mrs Mitchell (stop). No cases here yet (stop). To avoid risk of contagion here will require all vessels from Apia to undergo five days' absolute quarantine before discharging or taking on board any mail or cargo (stop). Request you to inform authorities of this decision (stop). Pleace inform me if we can be of any service or assistance. POYER. Colonel Logan in his examination in Auckland stated that he did not understand the message to. be an offer of medical assistance as far as Western Somoa was concerned, but rather assistance for Mrs Mitchell, who was then ill with influenza. Furthere, as a rule all messages, other bhan ; commercial, dealing with Samoan matters, cam e direct to him, and not through the Consul, and he replied direct to the Governor at Pago Pago.

When Uh'is particular xoda'ogiram was handed to him in the post-office he concluded that the only matter of interest to him in it was that relating to tihe quarantine of vessels before discharging o r taking on board any. mail or cargo.

We think Colonel Logan might easily have taken that view of the matter, as the message f without the light of after-events being thrown upon it s was somewhat ambiguous. Indeed, instead of asking for muchneeded assistance from Pago Pago— ' as we think he should have done, apart altogether from the wireless message referred to —Colonel Logan, incensed, no doubt by the refusal of the American authorities at Pago Pago to accep*"mail-matter from Apia until the vessel carrying it had undergone strict quarantine for five days, by a written order dated 28th November, closed down all wireless communication with Pago Pago, without informing the authorities there that he intended doing so. His excuse for that was that he had only one wireless operator physically capable of doing duty, and he considered the hour and a half during which the j lines were open for Pago Pago mes- j sages could be better used by this | operator for much-needed rest.

In his sworn evidence the operator in question declares that he did not complain to ■anyone of overwork, as at that particular time he was working only six hours per day; that he was astonished to get such an order; that the closing-down of wireless communication with Pago Pago did not shorten his hours of work; and, finally, that the average time taken per day for wireless messages between Apia and Pago Pago did not exceed twenty minutes } and not an hour and a half as Stated by Colonel Logan in his sworn statement.

We are of opinion that Colonel Logan was either not awar c of the position at the wireless station, or closed it against Pago Pago in a moment of exasperation.