OUTBREAK OF TYPHOID

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 11190, 21 April 1922, Page 4

OUTBREAK OF TYPHOID

POSITIOH AT AUCKLAND MAYOR PROTESTS AGAINST MISSTATEMENTS. EVERY PRECAUTION TAKEN. (Special to “X.Z. Times.”) AUCKLAND, April 18. Considerable excitement and consternation has been caused by the outbreak of typhoid fever reported from the Mount Albert district. The Mayor of Mount Albert (Mr A. I l ’. Bennett), in the course of a statement, strongly resented the imputation that liis council had been running a risk of using a water supply obviously liable to contamination. That was not the case, he said, as the council had exercised continual vigilance over tho supply, and had taken every precaution, taking their cue from the officials of the Public Health Department.

On December sth Dr. Hughes wrote advising /the council to treat the water supply bv sterilisation. The Mayor immediately conferred with Dr Hughes, and as the result the council had a chlorinating plant installed, which had been in constant use ever since. “The water in the reservoir was also chlorinated. I know it was done;” continued Mr Bennett. “And that has been continued right up to the present time. On December 21st an analysis was made by the Health Department which showed that as the result of chlorination the bacteria coli was absent in 50 co, which Dr. McKibbin stated was satisfactory. This shows distinctly that we did not forget about the water;-as has been imputed. We have been most careful indeed as regards the water supply, and have carried out all the recommendations of the Health Department as expeditiously as possible.” Last Thursday evening Mr Bennett was informed that a recent analysis of the water was not satisfactory, and immediately the pumping of water was stopped. All dead ends of mains were flushed and the reservoir was also further chlorinarted. It was not the intention of tho council to pump any more water until the condition of the water was believed to be satisfactory." “Dr. Gilmoiir will make _a_ further analysis, which we are awaiting with considerable interest,” concluded the Mayor. "If the water has been seriously contaminated —I am not prepared to say that it has—it has been because of the recent heavy rains. That is the reason. However, we want further evidence that the water has been the cause of the trouble.” He added that the Mount Albert Council had taken exactly the same precautionary measures as the City Council had taken in connection with the Western Springs supply. “We felp quite safe in using the water after chlorinisation, and 1 would also like to say that we have kept a very watchful eye on the water supply generally, and have alwavg acted immediately .on the advice of'the Public Health Depart ment. It should be borne in mind, added Mr Bennett, “that there are other possible causes for the outbreak, such aa milk supply, defective dramage, etc.**

ACTIVITY IN SANITATION

OiTY’S EFFORTS. A further APPEAL TO CITIZENS. -s "Tlie outbreak of typhoid within tho metropolitan area,” said the Mayor (Mr J. H. Gunson), “is a warning to all local authorities and those in any way - responsible- for the control and supervision of public health matters, that the utmost vigilance and constant care should be exorcised. The council’s staff throughout has again been directed to exercise the greatest activity in connection with sanitary and publics health matters. We arc glad to say that tho cpndition of the city at/ the ' present time —-a condition confirmed by both Dr. Frengley and Dr. Hughes, is satisfactory, if compared with the past. But there is still a very great deal he done in warning the public and in the enforcement of conditions which should be the accompaniment of a modern city. The council will not relax its efforts, but will enforce greater stringency in its requirements with the view of protecting the public health. The sanitary requirements of the city have been repeatedly laid down in the matter of garbage and the condition of premises, but householders and occupiers are again requested to give their fullest co-operation to the corporation officials. The rubbish tips recently closed down will not he reopened, and those kept open will he closely and effectively controlled. Rat poison will ©till he distributed free Prom the office of the chief sanitary inspector to all ratepayers occupiers of premises in the city. ' In view of tlie condition© in Australia, there is still necessity for active work, and the ratepayers and others concerned iff the city are naked to continue the poisoning campaign. From time to time it has been suggested, that the city should supply residents in other districts, lnijt this is impossible. All such must look to their own local authorities for these facilities. We have ievery reason to believe that appeals will not be in vain, as the importance of this matter is everywhere realised.”