SMALL-POX IN SYDNEY

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 144134, 2 July 1913, Page 3

SMALL-POX IN SYDNEY

IN VERY MILD FORM. FIRST DIAGNOSED AS CHICKENPOX. By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright. SYDNEY, July 1. A sensation has been caused by iho announcement of a serious outbreak of small-pox in Sydney. Since April 12 numerous cases of what wore described as chicken-pox have boon under treatment. The Government Medical Officer set to work quietly and conducted inquiries. Some cases wore renewed to the hospital, and after a careful diagnosis wore declared to be small-pox of a very mild form. The source or infection is stated to be a clothing factory in Red fern. So far, sixty cases have been traced. All the necessary precautions for quarantining actual cases and" contacts have been taken.

Mr. Holman has made an official statement with a-view to allaying public alarm. He states that tho Government medical officers aro adopting every possible, step to meet tire situation- The disease is in a mild form. VERY MILD EPIDEMIC. ONLY TECHNICALLY SMALLPOX. (Received Julv 2, 9.50 a.m.) SYDNEY, July 2. In connection with tire outbreak of smallpox in Sydney it appeal's that tbc first case occurred about April 12. Tire disease was brought hero by one of the crew of a steamer from Vancouver, where there was a mild outbreak. Its infective power is very low, seeing that though it has prevailed so long only sixty cases can be traced, the majority of which arc slight attacks.

Mr. Holman states that it is not too much to say it is only smallpox technically. The majority of those attacked have returned to work. Many did so without oven having medical advice. There is however evidence that an epidemic of chickcnpox is also prevalent in Sydney at present. j

On May 30 the proprietor of a clothing factory at Redfern reported that a number of his female employees were absenting themselves owing to a rash. On the same day a patient from the same factory was admitted to tho hospital. The case was at firit diagnosed as cliickenpox and it was discovered that about fifteen female employees had boon suffering from the same disease. After exhaustive investigation the authorities decided that tho outbreak was chickcnpox, though with some hesitation owing to the unusual nature of tho cases, i Several patients wore then vaccinated. If the vaccination had been successful it would have satisfied the doctors that the disease' was chickenpox, but tho results forced them to conclude that it was smallpox, though of an extremely mild type.