SHIP FUMIGATED

Southland Times, Issue 22491, 28 January 1935, Page 7

SHIP FUMIGATED

SMALLPOX ON AORANGI. (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright.) Sydney, January 26. Smallpox was definitely diagnozed to-day in the steward, who is ill, and the Aorangi’s passengers, who disembarked at the quarantine station this afternoon, comprise 139 through passengers and 181 from New Zealand, besides the crew of approximately three hundred. The ship will be fumigated, and is expected to berth at Darling Harbour to-morrow forenoon. The Union Company announces that the Aorangi’s sailing date next Thursday will be adhered to. Doctors Bevington and Metcalfe are still on the vessel examining the vaccination history of all on board. Those compelled to remain in quarantine for the full period, will have complete facilities for reading, recreation and communication by telephone with their friends in the Metropolitan area. Doctors Metcalfe and Bevington vaccinated 277 of the Aorangi’s passengers who had not been treated within the past seven years. PASSENGERS RELEASED VACCINATED WITHIN REQUIRED TIME. (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright.) (Rec. 11.55 p.m.) Sydney, January 27. Forty-five of the Aorangi passengers who were able to show they had been vaccinated within the required period, were released from quarantine and about half the remainder are expected to be freed next Wednesday. The Aorangi, with half of the crew aboard, sailed to the wharf at Darling harbour this afternoon. The Union Company reiterates that the ship will definitely sail on Thursday for Auckland. . The smallpox victim is progressing favourably. A passenger, Doctor Albert E. Platt of Cambridge, who is going to Adelaide to take up the position of Deputy Director of the Laboratory of Bacteriological and Pathological Research at Adelaide Hospital, said he believed the steward contracted the disease before reaching Auckland as he developed a rash and other symptoms before the ship arrived at that port. ACTION IN DOMINION ’ FULLEST INFORMATION OBTAINED. (Per United Press Association.) Russell, January 27. The action taken by the authorities concerning a reported case of smallpox having arrived in Sydney aboard the Aorangi from New Zealand was described to-night by the Minister of Health (Sir Alexander Young). The Minister said that on first hearing of the case he immediately communicated with the Director-General of Health (Dr M. H. Watt) instructing that the fullest information should be obtained from the New South Wales health authorities and that no effort be spared to trace all contacts with the patient who had landed in Auckland, to keep them under observation during the incubation period and to take complete action to safeguard the community from any spread of the disease. The official information received from New South Wales indicated that the patient, a second class steward, showed the onset on January 16 and an eruption appeared on the 20th. A diagnosis revealed the disease to be varioloid. There were no other suspects. This information had been distributed amongst all medical officers of the Health Department. Sir Alexander added that all the passengers landed in New Zealand from the Aorangi were under daily surveillance until the complete incubation period had elapsed. He had had an assurance from his departmental head that there were ample stocks of vaccine lymph in the Dominion and supplies were being distributed to the various health districts. If any case occurred immediate measures would be taken, for isolation treatment of the patients, the disinfection of quarters and the vaccination of contacts.