ACTIVE MEASURES

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 33, 9 February 1931, Page 10

ACTIVE MEASURES

SAWITARY PRECAUTIONS

M) SIGN OF DISEASE

The steps taken by the Health Department to provide for the medical and' nursing care of the injured have .already been made .known. In addi-, lion, precautions are being taken to avoid any epidemic ,iii the stricken area. Dr. T. M'Kibbin (Director of Public Hygiene), Dr. Hughes (Auckland), Dr. Telford (Christchurch), Dr. Eitchie (Dunedin),' Dr. JTindlay, Dr. Mercer, and Dr. M'Lean (Wellington), together with a number of sanitary inspectors, are at Napier, co-operating with the local authorities in taking the measures ecessary to ensure the maintenance of sanitation, and in. the1 reestablishment of water supply and sanitary services. This work is being carried out not only in the residential areas, but also in the refugee camps. Dr. R. 11. Makgill, consulting medical officer, came down from Auckland to headquarters to take temporary duty in the absence of the permanent head-of the Department at Napier. Medical officers of the Department state that so far there is little evidence to create fear in regard to epidemics. It is fortunate, they say, that the Na-pier-Hastings area is free from typhoid fever. During last year not one case of typhoid was reported from that area. This means that there are probably few natural carriers of the infection present in the district. This minimises greatly the danger where sewage has escaped from broken, sewers, etc. As an extreme precaution, a.certain amount of chloriiiation has been done to the waters in both centres. An analysis of the waters is proceeding. In regard to Hastings, the results, although not complete, are most encouraging. As to Napier, it is too soon yet to make a definite statement. Mention has been made of the advisability of administering anti-typhoid serum generally to all inhabitants ofthe area. This, according to medical opinion, would bo a very extreme step, and.is, not warranted by known conditions: Supplies of anti-typhoid serum arc, however, ready and on the spot, should necessity arise. A doctor of the Health Department and a senior sanitary inspector have been detailed for special duty at the refuge camp at Palmerston North. • Wojk, both in regard to the hospitals and to sanitation, is proceeding smooth)y and satisfactorily; and the co-opera-tion of the hospital boards and other local bodies is stated'to be most praiseworthy. The advantages of a State health and hospital servico come into relief in an emergency such as the present...