EPIDEMIC IN SUVA.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19475, 9 May 1925, Page 16

EPIDEMIC IN SUVA.

NATIVE FIJIANS NOT AFFECTED. (From Oral Own Correspondent.) AUCKLAND, May S. The Suva correspondent of the New Zealand Herald, writing under date of May 1, says: “Suva is having a rather unenviable time of it just now-. Some weeks ago an epidemic of dengue or influenza broke oat in the town, and while this occupied attention the people were rather alarmed to hear that a mild type of typhoid had made its appearance. Daily the number of victims grew until the hospital was filled, and still cases were reported. Now' the Medical Department has secured the Methodist native and Indian school at Toorak as a temporary hospital, and volunteer nurses are being supplied by the Indian Reform League. The school will be used exclusively for Indian patients. There are over 130 cases in hospital, and of these over 30 are European cases. There is no knowledge of how the infection was contracted, all hough the medical authorities suipect tho Chinese gardeners, and all are warned to leave all uncooked vegetables alone and to use only boiled water. “To-day further cases are reported, tut v-hc chief" medical officer thinks UK* principal cause of the epidemic has abated, and that, the extra eases are due to careless infection. There has been, no deaths and no sori' us danger is anticipated. The municina! council is heartily co-operat.ing with 'he authorities. The municipal inspector is making a house-to-house visit, and all homes from which patients have been removed are being thoroughly disinfected. The schools, except the Toorak one, are still open, although over a third of llnpupils are away ill. It is thought better to keep the. schools open. '<a very jiecoliar thing is that no native Fijian is known to have been infeetci. Tliis may be due to the fact that they do not cat Chinese vegetables, and both the Europeans and (he Indians do so. If we have good rains it is believed that the sickness will pass over. Every time that Suva lias a dry spell there is an outbreak of sickness.”