SAMOAN EPIDEMIC

Southland Times, Issue 18619, 18 August 1919, Page 6

SAMOAN EPIDEMIC

REPORT OF COMMISSION.

INTRODUCTION ATTRIBUTED TO ! TALUNE.

The report of the Royal Commission which inquired into the outbreak of influenza in Samoa has been issued. The report says that the whole of the evidence goes to prove that there was no epidemic pneumonic influenza in the Islands of Western Samoa prior to the arrival of the Talune from Auckland on Thursday, November 7, 1918 (Samoan time) ; that the day following its arrival a lady passenger died of pneumonic influenza; that in two days after its arrival a male passenger by the same steamer died of the same disease; that in seven days after its arrival pneumonic influenza was epidemic in Upolu; that it spread with amazing rapidity throughout Upolu, and later throughout Savaii, the other island of Western Samoa, distance from Upolu at the nearest point about twenty miles; that up to December 31, 1918, 7542 persons died of influenza, or as a consequence of the prevalence of influenza. The Commission says that in its opinion there is no doubt whatever that epidemic pneumonic influenza was introduced into Western Samoa by the s.s, Talune on November 7, 1918, Samoan time (November 8, New Zealand time). In connection with the vessel’s voyage the Commission says:— There are one or two striking points:—■

1. That, notwithstanding the fact that influenza had broken out in a serious form in New Zealand prior to the sailing of the Talune for Apia and way-ports, and was prevalent in Auckland, a clean bill of health was given to the ship, and no mention of this was made thereon. It is true influenza was not a notifiable disease at that particular time, but nevertheless we are of opinion that some mention should have been made of the above condition on the bill of health, especially as the Talune was bound for the islands. Medical men, at least, should have known the serious susceptibilities of a native population to even minor diseases which, in the ordinary course, cause little or no mortality amongst Europeans. 2. That the fact that passengers and crew were quarantined at both Suva and Levuka was not mentioned by the captain of the ship to the Health Officer at Apia.

3. That, notwithstanding the fact that influenza in New Zealand became a notifiable disease by Proclamation dated 6th November, 1918, no information whatever, either from the Health Department or the Defence Department, was radiographed to Samoa.

4. That at that particular time a number of New Zealand soldiers were on duty in Western Samoa.

5. That Captain Atkinson stated that had he known that influenza had become a “notifiable" disease in New Zealand he would not have passed the ship. 6. That Captain Atkinson had no previous experience in connection with the duties of Port Health Officer, nor had he received any instructions from the Principal Medical Officer on the matter. 7. That both the Principal Medical Officer, Surgeon-General Skerman, and Captain Atkinson, on November 7, 1918, were unaware of the existence of any local port regulations, nor had they made any inquiries regarding same.

8. That generally, as far as regulations governing the port are concerned—and in this report we are anxious to deal only with matters inside, the scope of our Commission—the utmost confusion reigned. One Department carried out the law as laid down by the Tripartite Government Regulations, 1891-1894; another, those brought into force by the German Government; while the Principal Medical Officer considered he was working under New Zealand regulations. We are strongly off opinion that Samoa should have been informed by wireless immediately influenza was, by regulation, made a notifiable disease in New Zealand; and that the Public Health Department and (or) the Defence Department failed in its duty in ignoring the fact that New Zealand was, for the time being at least, responsible for the welfare of the inhabitants of these islands, both 'European and Native.

It seems to us that Captain Atkinson failed in his duty as Port Health Officer in granting, or allowing the harbourmaster to grant, pratique to the Talune under the circumstances. Assuming his evidence to be true in every particular; he admits that the chief steward informed him, perhaps inadvertently, that the passengers were not allowed to land at Suva but were “all right” at Levuka; and assuming that he did remember, as he says he did, coming to the conclusion that there must be something wrong in connection with the public health of Suva and not with the ship, seems peculiar that he made no inquiries as to what was the disease which made it necessary for the Health Officer there to quarantine the passengers. Having got so much information, his natural course would have been to question the captain of the ship closely on the point. At least one would conclude that, thinking as he did, he would closely examine the passengers who got on board at Suva, but he did not do so. According to his evidence, Captain Atkinson did examine several members of the ship’s company who complained Of illness, and found their temperatures normal. To prevent, as far as possible, a recurrence of such a state of affairs, we suggest that a declaration should be signed by the captain of every ship calling at Samoan ports, and handed to the Health Officer when he boards the vessel, and that it should be made a penal offence if any captain is found guilty of wilfully falsifying such declaration. This declaration should deal with the health of passengers and crew on the voyage; which ports were touched at; whether clean bills of health had been received at all ports—if not, what was the nature of the disease' at that particular port ; whether the ship or passengers had been quarantined, and, if so, why? THE PAGO-PAGO WIRELESS. With reference to the extension of the epidemic: As pointed out, the disease spread with startling rapidity, and with appalling results. On November 20 the much-dis-cussed radiogram arrived from the United States Governor at Pago-Pago for the American Consul at Apia. Colonel Logan in his examination in Auckland stated that he did not understand the message to be an offer of medical assistance as far as Western Samoa was concerned, but rather assistance for Mrs Mitchell, who was then ill with influenza. .Further, as a rule all messages, other than commercial, dealing with Samoan matters came direct to him and not through the Consul, and he replied direct to the Governor at Pago-Pago. When this particular radiogram was handed to him in the post-office he concluded that the only matter of interest to him in it was that relating to the quarantine of vessels before discharging or taking on board any mail or cargo. We think Colonel Logan might easily have taken that view of the matter, as the message, without the light of after-events being thrown upon it, was ’ somewhat ambiguous. We would ask you, however, to look at the position for the moment as it existed then in Samoa. Practically all the Natives were down with influenza or fright, and they either could not or would not do anything to help themselves or others; the whole burden of nursing, feeding, and burying was therefore thrown on the military and European civilian .population who were fit, as well as on many who were unfit. The people especially the Natives, were dying at a startling rate, and the call for assistance, medical or otherwise, Vas totally beyond the power of the handful of Europeans to respond to, when someone suggested to Colonel Logan that outside aid should be sought. The quicker assistance could be obtained the more lives would be saved; even two or,three additional doctors with qualified assistants would have been of immense assistance. The nearest place was Pago-Pago, within ten hours’ steam of Apia, occupied by friends and Allies, having at least three fully qualified medical naval officers, with many trained orderlies, and yet assistance was not sought in this direction. Indeed, instead of asking for nuich-

needed assistance from Pago-Pago—as we think he should have done, apart altogether from the wireless message referred to—Colonel Logan, incensed, no doubt, by the refusal of the American authorities at PagoPago to accept mail matter from Apia until the vessel carrying it had undergone strict quarantine for five days, by a written order dated November 28, closed down all wireless communication with Pago-Pago, without informing the authorities there that he intended doing so. His excuse for this was that he had only one wireless operator physically capable of doing duty, and he considered the hour and a half during which the lines were open for Pago-Pago messages could be better.used by this operator for much-needed rest. In his sworn evidence the operator in question declares that he did not complain to anyone of overwork,. as at this particular time he was working only six hours per day; that he was astonished to get such an order; that the closing down of wireless communication with Pago-Pago did not shorten his hours of work; and, .finally, that the average time taken per day for wireless messages between Apia and Pago-Pago did not exceed 20 minutes, and not an hour and a half as stated by Colonel Logan in his sworn statement. We are of opinion that Colonel Logan was either not aware of the position at the wireless station, or closed it against PagoPago in a moment of exasperation. In his evidence the officer in charge of the v.|reless station of Apia stated, “According to international custom it is quite irregular to close down on any station. There is an obligation to communicate with all stations.” MEDICAL DEPARTMENT.

We consider that great benefit would result in the appointment under the Department of Public Health of a Quarantine Officer for New Zealand and its dependencies, who should have control of all matters connected with quarantine, including controlling and advising Port Health Officers, the clearance of inward and outward shipping, the issue of bills of health, etc., We find that at present bills of health are procured by shipping companies without any reference to the Department of Public Health, Such a course is open to serious abuse. We strongly recommend that in future all bills of health should be issued only by the Health Department, and that the incidental expenses thereof be paid by or through this Department.