INFLUENZA AT SAMOA

Otago Witness, Issue 3383, 15 January 1919, Page 24

INFLUENZA AT SAMOA

EIGHT THOUSAND' DEATHS ADMITTED. (Fbom Oue Own Cobkespondent.) AUCKLAND, January 9. The circumstances surrounding the introduction of the influenza epidemic into Samoa are referred to in a letter received by an Auckland resident from an American residing at Apia. " The Samoa Times, ' ho wrote, "admits, that BCOO of our small population have'" died, but my own view is that this is probably 600 too few. Many people insist that the deaths exceed 9000. We had news of the approach of the influenza about a week before it arrived, lno Talune came in with sickness raging on board, and of the passengers landed two died within four days after arrival; Mid the illness was such that word was sent ashore from the ship that the intending passengers were not to come off until the latest moment, af most of the ships stewards were so ill that they could not perform their duties. In face of this, the Talune was granted pratiqute, and people from ship and shore commingled as. they chose. Within four days the infection was on Savaii, and had spread all over the island. So many were sick and helpless at the same time that it did little use to dis tribute, rice among the starving people, as they were unable to share it. Bamoans died on the roads, on the beaches, find near water-holes, where they went to %athe their fevered bodies. The disease was kept out of Pago Pago, and no one here blames Governor Payer for keeping ; the boat from Apia from infringing his regulations by imposing five days' isolation. Had this part of Samoa .been similarly guarded we would have continued a safe and prosperous community Our native people are depressed and timorous. Two-thirds of their chiefs and mission teachers are gone, and a -similar proportion of the native police. About two-thirds of the deaths •were male 3. There were some children, though the latter were nearly immune. Harrowing scenes took place day after day, and the men of the New Zealand Forces, most of whom were immune, did wonderful work attending to the burials."