FEARS OF PLAGUE OUTBREAK

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 6433, 3 February 1908, Page 5

FEARS OF PLAGUE OUTBREAK

AT SAN FRANCISCO. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright SAN FRANCISCO, January 31. Cases of plague are still being discovered in widely-separated districts of San Francisco. The disease and the number of rats are increasing. Physicians predict a terrible outbreak in the spring. Plague has been stated to be prevalent in San Francisco for some months past, and the Department of Public Health at the Golden City reported in October that up to the 21st of that month the total number of cases, which had been verified, came to 73, and the deaths to 48. Seventeen persons had heen discharged as cured, and 10 remained in the hospital. while there were 38 suspects. In addition to those at San Francisco three cases had occurred at Oakland, one at Berkely, and one at Point Richmond. It was explained that the cases in San Francisco were not confined to the Chinese, but were scattered over the city. The Federal and city authorities had taken active measures to suppress the disease. A corps of twelve medical and thirty-six sanitary inspectors and 240 labourers was at work, and it was intended to increase the number. A sanitary survey was being conducted, and general cleaning and disinfection of houses were being carried out. The destruction of rats was proceeding at a cost of 10 cents a head. Similar measures were in operation in the towns across the bay.