DISEASE OUTBREAK

Hokitika Guardian, 25 February 1931, Page 1

DISEASE OUTBREAK

IN WAIKATO FARM. OVER 100 SUFFERERS. My Telegraph, Ber Press Association.) AUCKLAND, February 24. Three deaths lmve occurred ami at least one hundred people, most ot them children are affected as the result of an outbreak of what is believed to be gastric influenza in the mining town ot Pukemiio. The victims are: —

Mr A. J. Butcher), aged 45 years, who died in the Waikato Hospital, at Hamilton.

A boy named Hillier, aged about five years.

A girl named Tollan, aged about fo ll r vears.

The two last named died at Pukcmi ro. This outbreak is causing considerable anxiety at Pukemiro. The symptoms are peculiar, and they leave the affected persons practically helpless. lhe victims are mostly the children ot miners employed in the locality. J)r. Patterson, Medical Officer to the Pukemiro Medical Association, stated to-night that it was not authoritatively certain that the malady was gastric influenza. It, has been suggested that the disease has been conveyed through milk, and it is understood that that theoi.v is being investigated by the Health Department. Dr. J. Boyd, Medical Officer m Health for South Auckland, said that an inspector had been sent to Pukemiro to investigate the outbreak. His opinion had not .vet been received. It is reported that all of the children affected attended a picnic on Sunday, and it has been suggested that ptomaine poisoning may lie the cause of the widespread illness.