BUBONIC PLAGUE.

Hokitika Guardian, 11 October 1921, Page 3

BUBONIC PLAGUE.

FAULTY HEALTH CONTROL. SYDNEY, Sept. 28.

An oubreak of bubonic plague, which originated in Brisbane, the capital of Queensland, several weeks ago, and was concealed by the authorities of that State, is causing concern all over Australia. Fatal eases have occurred in Brisbane and at Townsville, one of the northerly ports of the State, while rats infected with the disgusting disease have been found on one of the wharfs at Sydney, where n steamer from Brisbane had been berthed. THie strongest resentment lias been expressod hv the Federal Director of Health and by the authorities of the other States' at the failure of the Queensland administration to notify tlu-ni on the outbreak immediately upon its (liseo\~r v The policy of silence was «f>parcntlv adopted in the desire to prevent a dislocation of trade, and in the hope that there would he no spread of the disease—a hope which was Futile unless preventive measures were adopted in every port in the Commonwealth, as well as Brisbane itself. One outcome has been a demand for some form of unification of the health administrations of all the States. At present each state lias its own health authority which works independently of the Federal authority, the principal function of the latter being the quarantine reactions, which' it controls all over the Commonwealth. While- it is possible for contagious and highly dangerous diseases to break out in one State, as bubonic plague has done in Brisbane, ami as pneumonic influenza did in Victoria during the terrible world epidemic, and not be immediately notified to all inrts of file Commonwealth, it is contended by high authorities that there ea.ti he no effective prevention of the- spread of the diseases. Tin- announcement of the outbreak has been followed in nil ports and many other towns by a vigorous campaign against rats. Those arc* the principal medium for the of the disease, it being necessary only to be bitten by a flea from a diseased rat. to contract tho plague. For some years . the Si dney Harbour trust has been sn- | gaged in making the entire wharfage ■ c f the city rat-proof, luul a scrutiny of | the water-front lias revealed a most gratifying diminution of the rat popu- j lat ion as a result of their efforts. Never • theles-s there is plenty of work for a j small .army of rat-catchers which had j been mobilised, and their endeavours are supplemented by residents and municipal authorities adopting slritt- > gent measures for the extermination of rats. Tho City Council took the lead by offering a reward of (id per head for j all rats delivered at their incinerators, and making a. free distribution of suitable poisons and rat-traps. The an- f thorities are confident that the virtual extermination of the nils will make n serious spread of the disease almost im_ I possible.