PLAGUE PRECAUTIONS

Waikato Times, Volume 94, Issue 14772, 11 October 1921, Page 4

PLAGUE PRECAUTIONS

The outbreak of bubonic plague in Australia has impressed upon the Health authorities of this Dominion the advisability of taking - steps to guard against the introduction and spread of the disease. To effectively keep it out the ports must be watched, but should it by any mischance get past the cordon, then it becomes the duly of the citizens as a whole to assist in the process of stamping it out. Bubonic plague is essentially a “dirt” disease. It has several methods of spreading, the most potent being by rodents. If rats and mice could be exterminated there would be little reason to worry about the plague; but with them numerous — and observers say they arc particularly so at the present lime —-an outbreak of trie disease’ might become a most serious matter, for it has been proved that it can be transferred to human beings by the bite of a flea or a bug. A war against rodents is therefore the best possible guarantee of immunity, and the most effective method of lighting the pest is by a general clean up of back yards and premises where conditions favourable to the harbourage ami multiplication of rodents obtain. One dirty yard is a menace to the residents for a wide circumference, and every rat is a danger to the health of the whole district. The Health Department has issued a bulletin dealing with the matter, which we published yesterday, and at-their meeting to-morrow night the Borough Council will consider proposals for a clean up within the borough and the inauguration of a campaign against rals. We hope the residents of Hie borough will heartily second the efforts of the Council in the matter for their own sakes as well as for Ihc sake of their neighbours. Apart from the menace of the plague, the prevalence of rats means a big loss to the community by the destruction of goods, and on this ground alone it would pay the community to wage concerted war against them.