SICKNESS AT CAMP

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2510, 10 July 1915, Page 6

SICKNESS AT CAMP

DENGUE FEYER? SAID TO HAVE COME FROM SAMOA • - TRENTHAM QUARANTINED

Rumours, most of them absurdly extravagant, wero in. circulation yesterday concerning the causes of tho sudden decision of the Government to raovo tlie men from Trcntham Camp, a decision acted upon. . with remarkable promptitude. It was reported that some very malignant disease had developed, and .various maladies were mentioned, all very serious. No official diagnosis of tho somewhat mysterious disease, which, along with, measles, has placed so many soldiers at the camp out of action, has yot been announced. In the opinion of an authority who has had somo experience of tropical diseases, tho symptoms resemble those of dengue fever., Tho ' probabilities 'in favour of this theory are considerable. Ifc is indeed not at all.improbable that this sickness has been imported from Samoa. ■

The Minister of Public Health stated last night that'the nature of the sickness was still being "investigated." Mr. G. A. Hurley, Government Bacteriologist, was working on the research, and Dr. Champtaloup, Professor ■ of. Public Health in Otago, Medical School and Government Bacteriologist at Dunedin. "Wo are determined;" said Mr. Rhodes, "to discover tho cause and the nature of tho epidemic if it is. possible to do so.. The illness supposed to be influenza has developed into a very virulent 'form, "mid the measles have also been of a malignant type. The combination of the two'has been very difficult to deal with. " It has happened that men have had influenza after an attack of measles. Unfortunately also a number have contracted pneumonia. "Until the : investigations are complete it is.\deemed advisable."to. quarantine tlie camp.- This does not mean that the men will not be allowed "k> movo to the other camps to be established in other places.' Somo thousands of them have in fact already left. As regards the sick men> they will be moved as soon as the doctors consider them fit to leavo the hospitals without'fear of conveying infection to any other part of the Dominion. ' . '

Mr. Rhodes stated that it had not been reported to him that there was typhiod at the camp, and he did not believe that the, disease was typhoid. The .doctors had..not reported any cases of diphtheria, and no deaths had beeu reported that day.

The quarantine on tho camp is a very strict one. No _ soldier is allowed ..to leave it except in a troop train bound for one of .the other camp sites, and no civilian is .allowed to enter the camp. Even soldiers returning"from leave are not allowed to set", foot .in the camp. - One!officer who,because of, his rank was.-. allowed ;by the military: police -to go into the camp on business yesterday was detained within the lines. Ho is now a contact,' and in quarantine.