OUTBREAK OF TYPHOID

Taranaki Daily News, 6 August 1937, Page 9

OUTBREAK OF TYPHOID

By Telegraph—Press Association.

GREAT BARRIER ISLAJND FOUR DEATHS FROM THE DISEASE. PROMPT INVESTIGATIONS MADE. FREOAUTIONS AGAINST EPIDEMIC.

Auckland, Last Night. Prompt investigation by officers of the Health Department last week-end of a reported outbreak of siekness on Great Barrier Island led to the discovery of an epidemic of typhoid fever there which had caused four deaths and had affected in varying degrees about 30 persons. The place most seriously affected is a Maori settlement in Catherine Bay, to the north of 'Port Fitzroy. Having obtained the autliority of tlie Minister of Defence (the Hon. F. Jones), Di C. B. Gilberd and Mr. W. Armour, of the Health Department, flew across last Saturday in a defence seaplane to investigate the position. They founcl siekness yrevalent among both Maons and a few whites in ihe four Maori settlements on Catherine Bay. Three Maoris and a child had' succumbed to it. Dr. Gilberd and Mr. Armour remamed until Monday morning, and during that time they inoculated everybody in the four settlements concerned, to the number of 87. The villages were thoroughly cleaiied up, and m view of all the precautions taken the Health Department expects a rapid subsidence of the trouble. Dr. Gilberd and Mr. Armour returned to Auckland by seaplane, and various tests made have completely confirmed the diagnosis of typhoid. They propose, i£ the weather permits, to return to Catherine Bay this coming week-end to gjve a second inoculation in all thc settlements affected.