QUARANTINE SYSTEM

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 21, 20 October 1920, Page 8

QUARANTINE SYSTEM

* REPORT ON MAHANA CASE. Th° board summoned bv the Minister of Public Health .[the Hon. C. , Purr) ■ to consider the circumstances which attended the berthing jutWelUnßtim of the in-migrant steamer Mahana on which there were cases of scarlet fpvpr. has annSed its finding. The Minister, also 2 ed to the board for its opinion ■arm" Points' relating to a««»ntin.jui. fumigation, and precautions nanisttho introduction, .of disease by shPfrom overseas, and these have been dealt \Mtti as well as the Mahana case. "Co, erning the berthing - of the Mahana without really any Penodof Quarantine. «"> board was of opinion that Health Department acted consistently with tlio practice customarily .followed by ■edica me when dealing with cases of cSt fever amongst the «* D SEE ashore, and considered. that the TJepar£ ment took reasonably Jusbnablp pnu> tion. Tho development of woturtnei cales of scarlet fever on the «"«>««« .the granting of Prattaue dd no call for Hie further postponement ot tiie uerui g of the vcLl, the.toard holding Hm the number of cases in comparison wit h number of passenger, was so smaU thnt the further postponement ot tne granting cpratiqSe was not warranted. The board heard the evidence of Du 5? of 1. Sortnnt 1..J hell «!► Island were 'adequate to meet any eina on Motuihi Island (Auckland) fur tho accommodation and quarantining of 50 oero at each place, tuch provision houldb"adequate to meet my demands tmt i.V reasonably be expected to arise. • Sr^Siiititt, '■ nwas\s follows ;-"The hsaal underbids that the following rrocedures are avaiublo and live been used by the ! Mti Department in the iusc of vessels arriving in New Zealand waters carrying • *of infections diseases:-*) In he ' 'as of minor infectious disease; tho ' Sent* have been sent into isolation ' ho ptols already provided for. such case, occurring amongst the shore population; • R) dangerous eases of infectious diseases. . Sot endemic in the country have been solated in nuarant'ne stations along with : contacts: 0) a system of requiring con- " tacNwlo have been released to report o officers of the Health Department and ' nrivate practitioners has been utilised. • The board considers there procedures ' .satisfactory, and is of opinion that the ' Department ?honM continue to adjrat ; them in future as in the discretion ef tho medical officers of the Department they ' may be applicable."