MYSTERIOUS EPIDEMIC

Taranaki Daily News, 25 February 1931, Page 9

MYSTERIOUS EPIDEMIC

LIKE GASTRIC INFLUENZA

VICTIMS’ HELPLESS CONDITION.

MAN AND 2 CHILDREN SUCCUMB.

By Telegraph.—Press Association.

Auckland, Last Night. Three deaths have occurred and at least 100 people, mostly children, are affected as the result of an outbreak of what is believed to be gastric influenza in the mining town of Pukemiro. The victims arc:— Mr. A. J. Edwards, butcher, aged 45, who dvd in the Waikato Hospital at Hamilton.

A boy named Hillier, aged about five years. A girl named Tollan, aged about four years. The two last-named died at Pukemiro. The outbreak is causing considerable anxiety at Pukemiro. The symptoms are peculiar and leave the affected persons practically helpless. The victims are mostly the children of miners employed in the locality. Dr. Patterson (medical officer to the Pukemiro Medical Association) stated to-night that it was not authoritatively certain that the malady was gastric influenza. It has been suggested that the disease has been conveyed through milk, and it is understood that this theory is being investigated by the Health Department. Dr. J. Boyd, medical officer of health for South Auckland, said an inspector had been, sent to Pukemiro to investigaterthe outbreak. His opinion had not yet been, received. It is reported that all the children affected'attended a picnic on Sunday, and .it has been suggested that ptomaine poisoning may be the cause of the widespread illness.