TYPHOID AT PORIRUA

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7869, 3 August 1911, Page 1

TYPHOID AT PORIRUA

AN ALARMING RUMOUR MINISTER’S REASSURING REPLY. An outbreak of typhoid in Pcrrirun Mental Hospital was like subject of a question by Air AY. 11. Field (Otaki) yesterday. Air Field wanted to know if it is' a fact that, cloven burials took place from the institution in one day. Tlio Alinister in Charge of Hospitals (Hon. George Fowlds) stated that ho bad been informed by Dr Hnssall, medical superintendent, that- since the beginning of Alareh, when the epidemio broke out, there bad been thirty cases of typhoid fever amongst patients, and three attendants bad bad it, but no nurses. All the cases wero now convalescent, cxceptxpne attendant who was taken to Wellington hospital on July 13tb. The last case among patients occurred at the beginning of June. There never was more than ono death in any one day. The Health Department had the matter iu band, and everything possible Iliad been done to guard against a. further outbreak.

"It is quite serious enough,” added Mr Fowlds, “but not so alarming ns th# rumour I wish to correct.” There had been no previous epidemic of typhoid at Porirua. Of course, where a thousand people were together in one building, it was quite possible that an occasional case might occur, or it might be brought In from outside.

Air Field remarked l|hat his information came from what seemed to bo a liable source, and ho thought it his duty to give the Alinister an opportunity of making a statement which would re~ ■Jieve a great deal of anxiety.