NIAGARA ARRIVES

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIII, Issue 10100, 14 October 1918, Page 4

NIAGARA ARRIVES

POLITICAL CHIEFS RETURN EPIDEMIC OP SPANISH INFLUENZA ABOARD. Press Xssoqiatdon. AUCKLAND, October 12. The B.M.S. Niagara arrived from Vancouver at 10.30 o’clock this morning, and berthed at the Queen’s Wharf. Visiting Ministers and local authorities, who assembled on the wharf, did not board the steamer in consequence of a reported outbreak of Spanish influenza on board. Mr Massey and Sir Joseph Ward are well, but it will be some hours before they land, as the vessel has to be thoroughly fumigated before anyone is allowed to land. A DEATH REPORTED. The epidemic of influenza on the Niagara reached its most virulent stage after .leaving Honolulu. Within a few days sixty-nine of the crew were invalided. The influenza spread right through the ship’s company, and some of the passengers also were invalided. There was one death only, namely,that of Rutherford, the boatswain's mate. ISOLATION TREATMENT. A serious epidemic of influenza brok* out on the Niagara soon after leaving Vancouver. The total number of’oases was 112 among the crow and seven among passengers. One member' of the crew died as a result of bronchial pneumonia supervening. When the ship arrived at. Auckland a largfi majority of.the cases practically bad' recovered, but it was necessary to remove 28 of the crow and it wo passengers for isolation treatment. The influenza was of the common, type, and mild in character, not being accompanied with gastric disorders. ' The' 'crew and passengers were obliged to pass through fin inhaling chamber improvised by the district health officer, and the vessel was fumigated. A large'European' and American mail was sprayed with formalin. LATER NEWS. Press Association. ' ‘ AUCKLAND, October 13. The influenza on the Niagara was of a common type, and mild in character. The cases totalled 123 of the orejv,.find seven passengers, , the ' j unde'r treatment on arrival being between thirty and forty, of whom twenty-six: were members' of 'the '"'crew " and two passengers were removed to the’ hosjiital for isolation. Four sufficiently recovered for discharge- to-day. The death was that of the boatswain’s mate, Thomas Rutherford, aged forty, a native of Nova Scotia. The . passengers subscribed, £250 for the benefit of the sufferers. ' Major F. 6. Massey, the . yppngest son , of the Prime Alinisteir, r ;also, .jnj turned invalided.. “ ‘ HEALTH PRECAUTIONS.’ The Hon. G. W. Russell (Miniate* for Public Health) stated on Saturday that he had received information that there was a serious ailment ou the vessel, and he had caused urgent inquiries to be made. One death theprevious night, from broncho-pneumonia following upon influenza,’ had ,been Reported. The disease was .. ordinary ' influenza. Only , two of the New Zealand ’passengers had influenza, but a large number of the crew was affected. The Health Department was making provision for the treatment of the severe cases at the infectious diseases hospital, Point Chevalier. . The Minister added that he had'given instructions for the ship to be cleared, and the usual precautions would be taken.