SIX CASES OF TYPHOID FEVER OCCUR IN CITY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18887, 11 October 1929, Page 1

SIX CASES OF TYPHOID FEVER OCCUR IN CITY.

TWO DEATHS REPORTED IN PAST FORTNIGHT.

During the past fortnight, an outbreak of typhoid fever has occurred in the Christchurch metropolitan area six cases, two of which have had a fatal termination, having been reported to the Medical Officer of Health, Dr T. Fletcher Telford. The occurrence of so many cases at one time is most unusual, and a very thorough investigation is being made by the officers of the Health Depart-, ment into the causes. In oxie case, which ended fatally, it is understood that the patient ate some tainted oysters. Other persons who 1 were with him at the time refused to have any of the oysters, and they were not affected in the slightest. The investigations into the causes of the outbreak have, it is understood, practically established that it has not been due to water or milk being affected by the typhoid germ. The most exhaustive inquiries are still being made in order to ascertain the exact causes Cases of typhoid, or, as it is more commonly referred'‘to, enteric fever, do not occpr very frequently in the Canterbury health district. Recently there was an isolated case in South Canterbury, but it is some time since there were any cases in Christchurch prior to the present outbreak. The disease is an infectious fever marked by great prostration, a typical eruption of bright rose-red points on the chest and abdomen, and severe intestinal irritation. Typhoid is now generally held to be due to a specific germ, the typhoid-bacillus, which is taken into the system almost always, if not invariably, by swallowing.