OUTBREAK OF CHICKENPOX.

Otago Witness, Issue 3610, 22 May 1923, Page 5

OUTBREAK OF CHICKENPOX.

MAKUKA IN QUARANTINE. AUCKLAND, May 17. An outbreak of Alastrim (a mild form of smallpox), confined to two children on board the Makitra, produced an unexpected development when the vessel anchored in the stream at 1.20 p.m., on arrival from Vancouver. Following medical examination, and as a precautionary measure, the port health officer (Dr Sharman) gave instruction for the steamer to proceed to Motuihi Quarantine Station till to-morrow morning. The two patients are third-class male passengers, aged about 1% and 13 respectively. They joined the steamer at Vancouver, bound for Wellington. The first was confined to bed last Saturday, about the time the ship reached Suva, and was isolated by the ship’s doctor. The Makura had about 100 passengers for Auckland and 50 for Sydney, also 670 bags of English and American mails for the dominion and a quantity of cargo for Auckland. The mails have not been landed pending instructions from Wellington. The two patients remain on the ship, under the ship’s doctor’s care. PASSENGERS TO BE VACCINATED. AUCKLAND, May 17. The Makura’s patients and passengers will land at the Quarantine Station after vaccination to-morrow. The cargo and mails will be fumigated. The mails will be landed today. After landing the passengers the ship will bo disinfected, and probably the Sydney passengers, numbering 50, will then return on board, and the vessel will proceed in quarantine to Sydney. The period of quarantine for the 100 Auckland passengers will be determined by the Chief Health Officer. The Port Health Officer says the complaint is nearer ehickenpox than smallpox.