TYPHOID EPIDEMIC.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 57, Issue 253, 6 August 1937, Page 3

TYPHOID EPIDEMIC.

' 30 CASES AT GREAT BARRIER. FOUR PROVE FATAL. (Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, August 5. Prompt investigation by officers of the Health Department last week-end of a reported outbreak of sickness on Great Barier Island led to the discovery of an epidemic of typhoid fever there, which had caused four deaths and had affected in varying degrees some •30 persons. The place mostly seriously affected is the Maori settlement in Catherine Bay, to the north of Port Fitzroy. Having obtained the authority ol the Minister for Defence, Dr. C. B. Gilbert!, and Mr W 7. Armour, of the Health Department, flow across last Saturday in a Royal New Zealand Air Force seaplane to investigate the position. They found sickness prevalent both among the Maoris and a few whites. In the four Maori settlements on Catherine Bay, three Maoris and a child had died. Dr. Gilberd and MiArmour remained until Monday morn-, ing, and during that time they inoculated everybody in the four settlements—B7 persons. The villages were thoroughly, cleaned up, and in view of all the precautions taken, the Health Department anticipates a rapid subsidence of the trouble. Dr. Gilberd and Mr Armour returned to Auckland by seaplane, and tests made have completely confirmed the diagnosis of typhoid. They propose,® if the weather (permits, to return to Catherine Bay this coming week-end, to give a second inoculation in all the settlements affected.