INFLUENZA EPIDEMIC

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

INFLUENZA EPIDEMIC

.. . SYDNEY, January 9. • . ' The quarantine station is now free of patients, but there no relaxation against vessels arriving from suspected" areas while any danger of infection remains. Amongst the official arguments in favour of the continuation of inoculation, despite the fact that the danger of the 'lntroduction of the scourge has practically iassed, is the probable recurrence of previously affected areas at the same period next though it may possibly be in a less virulent form. -There have been no fresh influenza cases ' since December 20. ADELAIDE, January 9. Four fresh cases of influenza are in quarantine. PERTH, January 9. Another death has occurred at Fre- :■.. mantle quarantine station from influenza. HEAVY DEATH ROLL IN SAMOA AND TONGA. AUCKLAND, January. 7. Further particulars of the ravages of influenza at the Islands were brought by the steamer Talune, which arrived early- this morning. With the arrival of the Talune at Samoa came tidings of the ravages of the epidemic in New Zealand and elsewhere. Immediately after the vess»i's departure for Auckland the pestilence broke out in the ■■' group, and spread with alarming rapidity, and in a very short space of time had spread throughout the whole of the Islands. . One of the places where the ravages of the epidemio were early apparent was the popui of Vaimoso. On inspection at this village an appalling state of affairs was discovered. Every house was closed up with mats, and inside, in the gloom, the suffering of the inmates was pitiable to behold. Some lay writhing on the ground; some were found covered with mats, swel„__tering in agony beneath the covering, while others lay in silence here and there. A sheet or tapa cloth covered a form recumbent and still, indicating onlv too well that the fell disease had finished its work. From then on the epidemio spread like wildfire, natives being struck with disease and retiring to their homes to die. It was no uncommon sight, a passenger stated, to enter a house which was closed down all round and find the whole-of the inhabitants lying dead. In some cases several-of the occupants had died some days previously, and those who survived were found clusterod*round the dead occupants. In many a House entered the occupants were past all help, and the walls were closed to await the arrival of the deadcart, which passed through the streets, stopping at the huts to pick up the dead. Many were buried in trenches. Bad as the conditions were, they were worse in other places, and it was at such places that medical attention was most urgently required. Owing to the fact that only four doctors were in attendance in the whole group, it was found utterly imSossible to adequately cope with the epiemic, which bad by now gained a strong s hold throughout the Islands. Although plenty of drugs were available, great difficulty was experienced in dispensing them, and in the majority of cases it was found that they would' not be required, the sufferers then being past all medical aid. Dr Appleby, who returned by the Talune, "■ paid a great tribute to the work of the garrison, who, although suffering severely from the epidemic themselves, rendered heroic service in tending the sick and assisting with burials. At first the greater part of the garrison, 10 of whom suc- * cumbed, were incapacitated through illness, but all who were able came forward as_ volunteers, and one and all—officers and men alike, —inspired by the splendid example of the officer commanding (Captain Richardson), worked with a will which is beyond all praise. In places where practically every native in the locality was sick and helpless it was found necessary not only to provide the tnoro necessitous with food, but to take it to their homes. Every morning large quantities of rice were boiled and soup was prepared at the barracks, and then distributed • Dy motor car or other conveyance where the food was most needed. Besides this telief in the immediate neighbourhood, boat-

loads of foodstuffs were sent around the coast and across the straits to Manono, Apolima, and Sawaii. Had it not been for this relief work it is certain that largo numbers of the afflicted would have perished from sheer starvation. A more gcuesome and equally important task devolving upon the staff working at the barracks was tho collection of the dead, for in circumstances where nearly all the natives were helpless it was found impossible for them to do what was needed for themselves. From first to last the interments at Waimea totalled 400, the heaviest toll for any single day being on No--v ember 23, when over 70 burials took pla^e. In the Tongan Group alone the death rate is stated at between 1500 and 2000. At Samoa the death roll was stated to be 8000. Hi was at the latter place that the death of the Dowager Queen took place, while the Governor of Maiakafa also fell a victim. When the Talune left, Suva was practically a clean port, while in the surrounding islands the epidemic had subsided and conditions were rapidly becoming normal. In the early stages it was found necessary to burn a number of the houses in which the dead lay. ... A sad feature of the visitation is the large number of orphaned and homeless children. SUVA A CLEAN PORT. SUVA, January 7. Suva has been declared a clean port. There have been no cases of influenza for over 10 days. MORTALITY IN AMERICAN CITIES. NEW YORK, January 6. Influenza during 1918 killed 111,000 Americans in 46 large cities.