INFLUENZA IN SAMOA

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 676, 30 May 1929, Page 1

INFLUENZA IN SAMOA

MAUI POMARE NOT BLAMED APIA REPORT REASSURING (Australian and N.Z. Press Association) (By Radio.) Reed. 11.15 a.m. APIA, Wednesday. Influenza is prevalent in Samoa, but cases have been experienced for the last three months, so it is obviously not the Maui Pomare which brought it to the Island. rpHE Administration’s Health Department reports: “The health of the community has been normal throughout the whole of the territory. Mild' influenza and colds are prevalent, as they always are at this season of the year. Only nine deaths were reported from Upolu Island for May. In other main islands the conditions are similar.”

A private radio message was received in Auckland by representatives of the Mau, from Pago Pago, Western Samoa, forwarding a communication from Apia to the effect that an influenza epidemic was raging. On being notified of the outbreak counsel for the Mau in New Zealand, acting on instructions from the Hon. O. l*. Nelson, sent a letter to the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. Sir Joseph Ward, who also is Minister of External Affairs, calling attention to the alarming reports received and pointing out that protest had been made against the Maui Pomare being allowed to call at Apia not long after the influenza epidemic on that vessel. The letter also protested against what was alleged to be the suppression of news. NO NEED FOR ALARM PRIME MINISTER’S STATEMENT J Press Association WELLINGTON, Today. Referring to rumours that a serious epidemic had broken out in Samoa, resulting in 1,300 cases and 72 deaths, the Prime Minister, Sir Joseph Ward, states that, from official advice he had received, no credence need be attached to these rumours. The health of the islands had been well ascertained from recent visits by medical officers.