TWENTY-TWO CASES OF INFLUENZA

Manawatu Herald, Volume L, Issue 3927, 6 April 1929, Page 3

TWENTY-TWO CASES OF INFLUENZA

AMONG CREW OF MAUI POMARE. Auckland, April 4. Of the crew of 4(1 of the government steamer Maui Pomare, which is at present in dock at Auckland, 21 Nuie Islanders and one white man are suffering from influenza. Six had temperatures to-night of between 103 and 104 degrees and the eases are regarded as serious. !th:. Hughes, district medical officer of health, states that the men are victims of the general type of influenza and undoubtedly contracted it since arriving in Auckland eight days ago. There is nothing- yet to indicate that the men are suffering from the virulent type, such,as was experienced in 1918. A dispute has arisen over the question of where the eases should be treated. The Health Department considers that as the vessel was declared clean on arrival from Norfolk Island and the disease was contracted ashore, the responsibiliiy is on the Hospital Board to treat the cases in the public hospital. On the other hand, the Hospital Board points to the 1918 epidemic and says it will not run the risk of a repetition by admitting these cases to hospital and contends they should be sent to the quarantine station at Motuihi Island. A special meeting of the Hospital Board Was held to-night. As the cases are outside the jurisdiction of the Health Department, owing to the vessel having been granted partique and influenza not being a notifiable disease, action by the department has been deferred, pending the arrival to-morrow morning of Mr." ; R. Smith, secretary of the Department of Internal affairs. In the meantime, the patients are still on Maui Pomare, which will come out of dock to-morrow and anchor in the stream.

Auckland, Last Niglit. Maui Pomiare, with 23 of. the crew influenza stricken (out of a Complement of 40), came out of dock to-day and anchored in the stream. Only one or two .patients were running a fairly high temperature. A second nurse has been sent out to the steamer, which is at anchorage. • The deadlock as to whether the cases should be taken to Auckland hospital or sent to the quarantine station at Motuihi Island continues. Although an improvement in 12 eases was recorded to-day, the Health department states it has been advised by the doctor visiting the vessel that the removal of the patients to Motuihi Island for quarantine purposes was entirely impracticable It was considered unsafe to move any of the men any distance in their present condition.. Acting on this advice and on an inspection made by departmental officers, it was agreed that the patients Would have to remain on the vessel, unless arrangement. could be made to remove them to hospital. -