MYSTERIOUS DISEASE.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 17469, 1 June 1922, Page 5

MYSTERIOUS DISEASE.

DEATHS IN QUEENSLAND. <FSOH OUB OWN CORIIESFOOTENT.) ' SYDNEY, May 24. Although no offical announcement has yet been made regarding the mysterious brain disease which has attacked children, and caused their death, in various parts of Queensland, the Health Commissioner states that eo fax the germ causng the trouble has not been identified. In is known that the germ caused encephalitis, or inflammation of the brain, but that is peculiar to some disease*, including meningitis. The present outbreak is similar to one at Gooniwindi five or six years ago, when the residents there became so alarmed that taere was an exodus from the town. At Gooniwindi, however, both adults and children were attacked, lne fact that the outbreak there disappeared after rain gave reason for a belief that the disease was dust-borne, and would again be abated by wet weather, lhat tiTe consumption of bananas has caused the disease is seemingly the widespread fear in soAe parts of the central district The point has had the attention of the Health Commissioner. The Southern Fruitgrowers' Association has also interested itself in the matter, as the rumour has caused a slump in the banana trade. The Health Commissioner (Dr. Moore) Btated that he was not aware that meningitis could be contracted from eating bananas. By the broadcast distribution of dust the microorganisms of many diseases could, of course, he deposited unon the fruit. The banana itself could not possibly cause encephalitis or meningitis or similar diseases, neither could the dust. The dust might be an agent, but only in tho carrying of the disease. It was reasonable to assume that the children might have got the disease from broken or exposed or wet ends of the bananas, but the whole thing was problematical.