EPIDEMIC COMMISSION.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XLV, Issue 11760, 20 February 1919, Page 5

EPIDEMIC COMMISSION.

THE NIAGARA CASE. Per Press Association. Auckland, February 19 At a sitting of the Epidemic Commission to-day, Dr Hughes, districthealth officer, continuing bis evidence, said that in connection with the arrival of the Niagara, he was advised on October 11th by the Union Company that the vessel would arriva next day. A wireless message received by th« Union Company had asked them to advise the Health Department at Auckland that Spanish influenza svas on the ship, and that the number of cases were increasing daily. The message stated that over one hundred of the crew had contracted the disease, and asked for accommodaton for 2a serious cases. Witness rang up the secretary of the Hospital Board and asked that the Point Chevalier Hospital he eqnipped. It was agreed that this'would be done. Witness then sent a wire to the authorities in Wellington, asking for instructions. On October Ist he received a reply as follows; “Niagara arriving in Auckland noon to-morrow. Notifies Spanish influenza aboard, increasing; over one hundred of crew down. Urgently required hospital accommodation for cases. Administer inhalation two per cent, zinc sulphate to all on board before desembarking. Repeat daily while the ship is in port. Instruct those disembarking to repart; to the health authorities in home towns for further treatment. ” On the same day Dr Hughes advised the Wellington authorities that he had arrang ed to have Point Chevalier Hospital equipped, and that there was no accommodation at the General Hospital. Later he was informed that the Hospital Board had not equipped the Point Chevalier ward but that acc-ommodation had been arranged at the isolation block at the General Hospital. The assistant superintendent at the hospital (Dr Grant) had told him that they could not nurse cases at Point Chevalier. The Niagara arrived at Auckland, and cam® alongside the wharf on October 12th. He was with the port health officer at the wharf. Just before Ihe gangway ;was put down, another telegram was received from the Minister for Health as fallows: “Before the poit health officer clears the Niagara, or sny cum munication with th ship is permitted, he is to report [to me through you, and await instructions: (1) The number of deaths, if any on the ship since leaving Vancouver, and if from influenza; (2) whether the disease is or is not pure influenza, presenting the same indications as that which has prevailed in the Dominion for some time past.’’ On October 12th Dr Hughes wired to the Hon Russell advising him that one death from broncho-pneu-monia, after influenza had occurred on the Niagara, and that the disease was purely simply influenza. When witness went aboard with the .port .health officer they were met by the doctors on the vessel. The port health officer and Dr Mackenzie (one of the doctors on board) made rounds of the patients on the vessel. A conference was held later as to the diagnosis of the disease. There were two cases of undoubted pneumonic influenza on the vessel, and one or two other with fcrepitation in the lungs. After discussing the situation, witness and the other .two doctors came to the conclusion that the disease was ordinary influenza, Dr Russel (port hsalth officer) told witness that he had a case of pneumonic influenza ashore that was worse than either of the two cases of the vessel. It was considered that in the conditions under which the influenza had developed on the Niagara it would be natural to expect one or tv. o cases of pneumonic symptoms.