Samoan Epidemic

Thames Star, Volume LII, Issue 13967, 18 August 1919, Page 2

Samoan Epidemic

REPORT OF COMMISSION

8,500 Deaths from Influenza Tho report of the S-w/'aini Epide i mid Commission, states tljait the esvidcncia shows! -lihaib there was no eipideanr.o kifluemza. ia the Group, puror to tii© i'lmval of tiie Twlunts on NovcimlxT 7, 1918; tiheiti en the day following; tho vessel's arrival a lady passenger died from pneuimonliiG influenza; tliaib on the second day ii m&ile passengfor died from the amm f aaiusa, whale 7 'days after the vessel's amivail, influerasa was epidemic tfliroiughoiut IXpoilui atridi spread wli Hi amazingl craipidliily through, the Group tfp to Deoemib&r 31, 191£, 7542 per■siotnia dried from influenza, while it is safe) tb asfemnu? ..that tihc total deatihh from influenza din, Samoa would total 8500. i The Cornaniissiiiom, find that there is no dombt tfaarfj the epidemic was in'tipoduccd by the Tailmie. Tlhb fact "tjhait. influer.za was ranv psamrti in New Ziealamd was not radio graphed 1 to Racmioa, either^ by tih-3 ' Health Dapartsnenifc or Defence Depairtmianrti, nor was this noted on tiho Taikme'g, deoiraaice papers■ The faiafe tlhat the vessiel wa<» quarantined in Fiji was nlotb miemitlioneil by the' captain fro the Sairooam port auithoriitiieo. The Commrisaiom finds tiha.t the ut. nnoetj confueeon mgmed, so far ate 1 re gnl'a,tliomig gominint!' tho pf>rt-.w<ae-COTi-cemied. Tlie Qomimisßaoßi!. further finds thatl as ootoni cis in,fluieinra wae diecilalrA'l a'-nMSfiaiUei disease m New Zeola-nd that factfa should have , .betemi wirelessed to Samoa, iund tihuib the Dtrfeaoo Depai-bmeinitl _ am,d. the -PuibKlci' Hehith Depairtimteinlb feilled : .jti. .their duity by iwH) doiiiig am. The,. Govwnmeniti of New Zeiaiiamd 'shieMM' 1 endeavolir' to oamo t» an: airfainiji'eimen.t wiitfc other Goreimimenitis whereby there ooiild Th* world-widie oa,blinjr of the outbreak' of ahi opadiemiio in any country. There wiaiss, sflys tlhie rtport. a. oom-, ipleta srilesnoa'-cn* aitl least ai'wamib of' feiainikniesei on: th© ipnirt of the officers, crowi amd paseemgiersi of the Talumie. COLONEL LOGAN'S CONDUCT. The' xuaitti.vest did Etitle or nothing to oairie. for itlieanselVesS; N the whole burden of <thck> hveaitxiueAVb and buainil ■idl ob the rew Europftonß. It wa« auggietsted to Ccilondr Logam thoitl ou'Lsride add showid be sougiit. There were 3 qualified raved doctot'^' and irauiiy t-raiined orderlies ait» Pago Pago, ton hfouafe istdaaiy fiicmi Apia,, yet aiseiLsi^ aince was ■hot scuigii there; Indeed, CoJiOßiial Logan, imcohsed no douibt; l>y the American aiU'tlhiOT'itiies ait Paic;"' Pa^io to acoeipltl rneci maitters -,fn;^\ Apiai till the •vieaseil' carryingl it had umdergkyne sittrfciti quarantine for 3 days,,,. dosed the mreßess fttaitiion^.tjo-jneis.-;!,:, sages frorni Pai-roi Pago without "i<i)<formtng the ■autihodttteß .there he hiid dome w>. The wi-rdesis operaltioir 1 d»olaifed itihlaib this was quite irregular. Dealingl with ithe- oanducib of Do. James, M.O. "afc Tuasevii'," Sayndi, til jo reipoirtl islays: '''Wenirta of opiniion that. ' ' hiad Dr. Jainieis viisited evem. the w!'laptes wiithn'nl iv 3 Tniile radius much sufferinio; and - possibly iramiy lives magjhifc liuaive boen -fiaived?" Accordinjr; to iMaitiive wiitmtepaerg Dr. James never vfiai/ted inaitive patients in' his own village or those wiithin-' ea-sy walkinc; 1 dbtlaince, buHj oonittetßted himself w?tih stiayiiugl ajti home and handing out: nuedioimie to amy omo who called. PRAISE FOR SOLDIERS. The report concludes: }*'N6, words of oiurgi cam; convey our apiprettiation. ■of (the nuagjadfifleinit; work done.Tby the ■ nmliiltairy. fronn M!ajoir Ricihairdson down 'to tihe privalttei soldfer. Colonel Logaai 'lid aplemdid won^k, visiting native oillages, seoing] to th« feedingl of the^ Mia/biros, and partgoaialLy buirying! the dead-