STRICT PRECAUTIONS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 19987, 12 July 1939, Page 11

STRICT PRECAUTIONS

SPREAD OF SMALLPOX YKSSKL FROM TAHITI YACCIXATIOX OF CREW (Pf>r Press Association.) AUCKLAND, this day. Strict precautionary measures to prevent any possible spread of Dio occurrence of smallpox at Tahiti will be taken by the Health Department on the arrival from Papeete at; Auckland this morning of the Union Steam Ship Company's chartered motor sh:p Tolten. The vessel was at Papeete for about a week loading island produce, and as she cleared that port for Auckland only 12 days ago it is considered that insufficient incubation period has been given for signs of the complaint to be apparent. When the Tolten arrives in Pie stream she will anchor and no boarded by Hie acting-port. health officer and the Health Department officer. Surveiilar.ee For Week The crew of 48 will be examined, and those who have not previously been vaccinated against smallpox will be vaccinated, and all will be under surveillance for more Ihan a week, reporting daily to the Health Department. The safeguards to be taken follow routine lines, but the quarantine inspection will be the first of its kind made at Auckland for many years. The incubation period for smallpox is from 12 to 14 clays, a period longer than I’nc Tolten has been at sea, and every precautionary measure is therefore required. The normal period of quarantine in the event of an outbreak is 1G days, and the isolation period for sufferers is .from four to six weeks. It is expected that the quarantine examination will occupy about an hour.