TYPHOID PREVALENT

Northern Advocate, 27 July 1934, Page 8

TYPHOID PREVALENT

MAORIS AFFECTED SHELLFISH FROM MUD FLATS (Per Press Association.—Copyright.) NAPIER, This Day. Contaminated shellfish are believed to be the cause of the prevalence of j typhoid fever among Hawke’s Bay Maoris at the present time. In a letter to the Hawke’s Bay County Council, Dr. IT. S. McLean, of the Health Department, states that after exhaustive inquiry into the cause of typhoid fever among Maoris, the department has come to the definite conclusion that the fever is the result of the consumption of shellfish, such as pipis and mussels, which have been collected in the mudflats of West Shore, and distributed through pas in the district. It is pointed out by Dr. McLean that, following the earthquake, a notice was erected at West Shore warn-i ing persons against eating shellfish found in the locality, but the notice had since disappeared. He suggested that another notice be erected, stating that the shellfish in the locality wore unfit for human consumption, and any) person found selling the shellfish was) liable to prosecution and a. fine not exceeding £oo. During the season, it has been a common sight to see lorry loads of natives proceeding to some favourite! grounds where they can spend the dayj gathering pipis and mussels. In days! gone by West Shore was one of the j most popular. It is felt that before} long the Maoris will have found an-j other ground.