ANTHRAX SCARE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21893, 31 August 1934, Page 11

ANTHRAX SCARE

DISCLAIMER FROM JAPAN DISEASE UNKNOWN THERE (Received August 31, 12.15 a.m.) TOKIO, August 30 Commenting on the anthrax scare in Wellington, New Zealand, attributed to Japanese shaving brushes, the spokesman of the Foreign Office to-day pointed out that very strict sterilisation is carried out in Japanese factories. Moreover the disease is unheard of in Japan. The spokesman suggested that local manufacturers were encouraging the agitation. A telegram from "Wellington on Monday stated: —Large numbers of a certain type of imported shaving brush, from ono of which a Canterbury resident recently contracted anthrax, are believed to be still in circulation, and a warning to the public to take immediate steps to destroy any that might be in use was issued to-day by the Health Department. These brushes have no brand, but the number 332 is inscribed on the handle. Of this particular typo there was a series of importations involving 368 dozen, of which 105§ dozen have been recovered from dealers. The department stated that a few of a considerable consignment of these shaving brushes have been found on bacteriological test to bo infective for anthrax should a cut bo made in the skin. The brushes in question were inexpensive, and the public was strongly advised not to use, but to destroy by burning, any shaving brushes which came into their possession bearing the number 332.