PRECAUTIONS TAKEN

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 8, Issue 66, 20 April 1945, Page 5

PRECAUTIONS TAKEN

DIPHTHERIA NOTIFICATIONS

OUTBREAK NOW ON THE WANE

I A reassuring statement by the ! Majtoii on the question of the ; control of the recent outbreak of diphtheria, was made at the meeting of the Borough Council last Monday when discussing the Health Inspector's report for the past month. Mr Barry said that he had interviewed the Inspector who had stated that effective measures of control and immunisation had been taken by the Health Department in conjunction with the school authorities and the outbreak could now be definitely said to be on the wane. Although there had been nine notifiable cases in the Borough the complaint had actually originated at AwaUaponga from whence it had spread to the. outlying districts. Everything possible had been done by the Department of Health and the Medical Superintendent whilst the Medical Superintendent of the Hospital had arranged for the admissibn of.all suspected and positive cases and this proved to be of greaft assistance in checking the outbreak. Every precaution was taken with regard to suspect cases who were isolated together with their families until such time as tests were taken to indicate whether they were positive or otherwise. In the Borough the most, stringent precautions had been exercised particularly with regard to those who were handling foodstuffs, and it was necessary to isolate a number of in-i dividuals by taking them from their work for this purpose. A campaign for the innoculation of school children was instituted in the district, with the Educational authorities in fullicsti co-operation, whi Ist the medical practitioners also assisted greatly in this respect, injecting large numbers of children throughout the district. There had been no fresh cases reported now for well over a, week. Cr Spring thought that in future it would be of interest to the Council if the Inspector could indicate in his reports the localities of the outbreaks, and also the results of his tests; carried out under the 'Pure Foods Act.' Public health Avas a matter of intense interest and should be 'fully portrayed.

The Council agreed to recommend that the Inspector include the above points in. his reports in future.

(In conversation .with the Health Inspector we. learn that the last po&itive case in. the Borough was notified on April 4th and from the County on the Bth. One 'carrier' (a contact ol" the fast case in the Couaty? is to be admitted to the Hospital for treatment. Ed.)