WAR-TIME EPIDEMICS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24400, 11 September 1940, Page 9

WAR-TIME EPIDEMICS

KEEPING DISEASE AT BAY AUSTRALIA’S PLANS COMPLETE (From Our Own Correspondent) SYDNEY. Aug. 24. With disease already threatening Europe, the Commonwealth Health Department has intensified its quarantine nreparations to safeguard Australia from epidemics. “We held disease at bay in 1919-28. and'we can hold it again, but only if we are ready and watchful.” said the Director-general of Health (Dr Cumoston). “War is always associated with an increase in epidemics. International maritime traffic is dislocated, international law temporarily ‘vanishes, and international precautions are less effective. I have recently been as fai as Cairns (in far north Queensland) inspecting quarantine stations, and taking all precautions to see that the officers responsible for guarding the health of Australia are on their toes. Another quarantine officer continued on to organise things at Thursday Island. Our organisation has been made increasingly efficient in the Northern Territory.” Dr Cumpston said that the Commonwealth had established laboratories throughout Queensland. Any disease could be identified immediately, and any outbreak handled with the utmost promptness. “Humanly speaking, all possibilities have been met.” he added “We have reserves of vaccine and facilities for dealing with plagues of cholera and other diseases." Very careful examination, he said had been made of the Hongkong women and children evacuees, but no disease had been found.