THE SMALL-POX OUTBREAK.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1797, 9 July 1913, Page 6

THE SMALL-POX OUTBREAK.

TnE outbreak of small-pox in Sydney is, fortunately, of a mild form, and so far no deaths have been reported. In view, however, of the large amount or passenger traffic between Sydney and New Zealand it is satisfactory to know that uur Health Department taken prompt measures to minimise the possibility of the introduction uf the disease into the Dominion. The necessity of such action is accentuated by the peculiar epidemic that has simultaneously appeared among the Maoris in tin: north. At present passengers from Sydney ami other Australian ports have to undergo strict medical examination, and are being vaccinated. A similar precaution is being taken in the case of people leaving New Zealand for Australia. There is no need for alarm, but thuro io ovary necoasit.y tos tho employment of tho most_

effective methods. New Zealand has been free from small-pox for so long that a generation bas arisen that has never experienced an epidemic of this dread disease, and as a consequence people are inclined to be rather lax as regards precautionary measures. Yet small-pox is one of the most contagious of all diseases, the most common cause of infection being contact with the persons or immediate surroundings of those already affected. It has existed in Europe for centuries, but vaccination, improved sanitary arrangements, and medical skill have done much to limit its ravages among civilised nations in modern times. Still, occasional outbreaks do occur, some cases being more severe than others, and the mortality consequently greater. In 1901 and 1903 there were epidemics in the United States in which the mortality was only 2 per cent. The death-rate was much more severe in an outbreak in Philadelphia, namely, 26.89 per cent, in 7204 cases, while in Glasgow in 1900-1901 it reached 51.6 per cent, among the unvaccinated and 10.4 per cent, among thoso who had been vaccinated. In spite of the opinions of the highest medical authorities, some people still doubt the efficacy of vaccination, but it is a rather significant fact that when an outbreak occurs there is always a great rush for vaccination. The demand is now so great in Sydney that the supplies of lymph can hardly keep pace with it. The protection of vaccination tends to diminish as years go by, and medical authorities state- that it ought to be repeated from time to time. This is the reason for the present action of the local health officers in regard to those travelling to and from Sydney. _ The report of the English Vaccination Commission stated that where re-vaccinated persons were attacked by, or died from, small-pox, the re-vaccination had been the most part performed a considerable number of years before the attack. There were very few cases where a short period only had elapsed between re-vaccination and the attack of small-pox. This shows plainly enough that it is of importance in f,ho case of any persons specially exposed to the risks of contagion that Vioy should be re-vaccinated, and Uiat in the case even of tHose who i'rjVc been twice re-vaccinated, with success, if a long interval since the last operation has elapsed, the operation should be repeated for a third, or even a fourth, time.