A DANGEROUS OUTBREAK.

Shannon News, 11 October 1921, Page 3

A DANGEROUS OUTBREAK.

PNEUMONIC INFLUENZA AT MUHUNOA WEST. THREE DEATHS RECORDED. ' During the past two or three weeks there have been evidences oi the presence of the pneumonic type of influenza among the natives of the Muhunoa West district, and a fatal case was' recorded in the middle of, last month, the victim being a young girl of school age. Apparently the disease appears to have developed at different points of the district since then, and ■two further deaths of young children have taken place. Unfortunately in jthe latter case no steps whatever were 1 taken to notify the authorities. Indeed, with the exception. of those directly concerned, very few outside i the neighbourhood appear to have been aware of the turn matters had taken, and of the exceedingly dangerous character of the outbreak. Meantime additional native families became affected, and it was at' this stage that the Health Department received an' j inkling of the conditions at Muhunoa. I FOURTEEN CASES LOCATED. Oh Thursday, Dr. pindlay, medical . health officer, of Wellington, accompanied by Inspector O’Brien, of Palmerston North, proceeded to Muhunoa and made a: house-to-house inspection of the whole of the native habitations. As a result of the' inspection it'was found that the epidemic had a considerable hold, and no less than 14 cases were Ideated. These include both adults and children, with the latter* \ largely predominating. Both i officers took what steps were immediately necessary, and left by motor for Palmerston, where arrangements were made with the. Palmerston Hospital Board for the supply of medical stores, temporary: hospital equipment, food, and other necessities. The Board and the Health Department appear to have, acted with the greatest promptitude, and the necessary arrangements were quickly made. , ■ TEMPORARY! HOSPITAL TO. BE . ESTABLISHED. ; • Mr O’Brien, accompanied by Mr •Mansfield, secretary of the Hospital Board, returned yesterday afternoon, bringing through the hospital ambulance loaded with, equipment, including a large marquee, which will be <:, used as a hospital where all the patients will be treated under the direction of a qualified nurse. The ambulance proceeded direct to Muhunoa, but owing to lack of assistance great difficulty was experienced in pitching the marquee. This was eventually accomplished, however, with thd hqlp of Mr Royal,, a local resident, and bv 8 o’clock lasi night the hospital was in order with stretchers and bedding, together ' with medical stores and food, and an additional tent for the use of the nurse. ' ’ , . PATIENTS TO BE COLLECTED ,Mr O'Brien and Mr Mansfield /collected the* patients and brought them to the hospital by means of the ambulance, where they will be taken charge of by Nurse Lewis, the Government native nurse, of Otaki. The hospital is located on the high ground near the meeting house at Muhunoa. THE PAH ISOLATED. The infection was found to extend, from the pah to isolated families ..out at Buller Lake, as well as in other directions, and in order to deal as promptly as possible with the outbreak and stapip it out, the pah has been isolated. The cases examined showed that some . were suffering from the disease in an acute form, but oth ers were not sb severe. Evepy case in the distriqt has b.een located, and wil.l> •be treated, so That the operations of the disease may be regarded as having reached their limit.; Inspector O’Brien will remain in touch with the hospital every day, and any further developments arising will 1 be promptly dealt with. CONDITIONS AT PAH. A COUNCILLOR’S PROTEST. r.< At Saturday's meeting of the Horowhenua County Council, Cr. Harkness said he regretted to say that a serious outbreak of influenza had occurred at Muhunoa West, and already there were three or lour deaths. The matter concerned the Council, as this body had taken feteps to get a health officer appointed here. It was. only three years ago that the influenza, epidemic broke out at the" same place, and now there was a repetition of it. He went on to say that a death took place a, little time ago from this complaint, ai\d in' a two-roomed cottage where the body was lying no less than 13 people lived during the whole of the tangi. When the funeral took place a grave was re-opened which should not have been touched so soon. The question was: What were the health ' authorities doing when such a serious ■condition of things existed? /.■„ The chairman (Cr. Monk): When tho . Hospital Board heard of the outbreak they 'has a hospital there in 24 hours. Cr. Harkness: ,Yes, and I must say;

that the nurse is doing good work; but I’ve heard nothing of the health authorities. What, are they doing? The Clerk (Mr Goldsmith’: A health officer has been there and doing his best. Cr. Harkness said it seemed to him the health authorities had been very slow in the matter, and he wished to eater his protest. The Chairman: Well, the Hospital Board has lost do time when it heard . i . of the matter/- ' . - Cr. Broadbelt said that was the first be had heard of the outbreak, and regretted that it had occurred. NATIVES RESIST REMOVAL TO PALMERSTON. COMPLAINT MAY BE TYPHOID. \ The conditions at the Muhunoa West pah are still serious and of the, 10 patients wild were got into the hospital tent on Saturday, two adults; a woman and a young man, were still delirious this morning, whilst one case had a relapse last night and is now in a somewhat serious condition. Of the others there are several with abnormal temperatures. As all the patients were not collected qn Satur- j day, it is intended that these'shall be I brought in to-day. ; TYPHOID SUSPECTED/ The serious condition of ( things resulted in a special visit yesterday of Dr. Fajis, Health Officer for the Wellington! district, and Messrs. Huggins and O’Brien, of Palmerston North, health Inspectors to the Public Health Department. Dr. Faris made a careful examination of the patients, apd came to the conclusion that there were strong indications that at least three of the patients were sufflering from typhoid and hot' from influenza. Dr. Forrest, superintendent of the Palmerston Hospital; and Dr. Faris, were to visit the hospital to-day to make tests with a view to definitely establishing whether the patients are suffering from typhoid. jjj _ ATTEMPT TO REMOVE PATIENTS. As a result of the conditions existing at the hospital, Dr. Faris decided that the patients' could best, be treated at the Palmerston Hospital. Arrangements were immediately put in hand yesterday for the transport of the patients to Palmerston. A 1 special train was arranged for, together with stretchers and ambulance, to transport tpe patients to the statipn, when an 'unforeseen opposition to this step presented itself. ’ v • ' • j MAORIS THREATEN FORCE. f When preliminary preparations were being made /to remove the patients from the hospital, their relatives and friends, of whom there were a good / number present yesterday, discussed •the situation among themselves, and appear to have been almost unani- ■ mously opposed to any of the sick being moved. They informed Dr. Faris accordingly, and made . in plain thatthey were prepared to use force if any attempt was made to oppose' them. They argued that the hospital was set up, and some of.the patients were improving, and all they wanted now was attention, which could be given on the spot. They thought that the hospital could carry on as it was. Dr. Faris concluded that rather than risk any interference with the patients it was better to let- matters remain as they were, and cancelled the arrangements made. One 'orTwo of the local natives agreed with Dr. Faris’s proposal, but they were overwhelmed by the opposition. OBJECTIONABLE CONDITIONS AT HOSPITAL. Unfortunately the arrangements at the temporary hospital are not as complete or as satisfactory as they should be. The rain of the last day or two, and the traffic in the vicinity of the marquee, has churned the ground into mud- and -it*is impossible to. reach the tents without going down to the boottops. This is the state of things that the unTortfinate nurses in particular have to conteiTd with in moving about the camp, whereas the trouble could be largely minimised by‘the laying down of planks of boards. Under this handicap the work about the hospital is a severe tax, and an ordeal that those who’ are labouring there should not.be called upon to put up with longer than ,is necessary. PRIMITIVE ARRANGEMENTS. There is even more urgent need tor improvements in other* directions. More tents are needed, and above all a cookhouse, where food for the nurses and patients could be prepared. At present there Is none, and the nurses have so far had to take “pot luck” as regards meals. The only vessel that was available for heating' water is a large 'boiler, and it was placed some distance away from, the hospital.. A cook is wanted at once, also assistance 1 lor the nurseS; -together with a few orderlies to do the heavy work both

inside and outside the’hospital;* “and, last but not least, some two or three persons to keep people away and prevent further contagion, in the hospital itself some form of heating is, wanted, as under the present conditions it is impossible, as well as dangerous, for. the nurses to strip and wash patients. There are no fires anywhere, and a little comfort of the sort would make a difference for all concerned. If the hospital arrangements are primitive, the sanitary conditions are pre-historic. It is hoped that'the responsible authorities, whether the Health Department or Hospital Board, or both, will show a,little more energy and initiative in dealing with the situation and provide facilities, comforts and conveniences that the conditions warrant. Up to the present Nurse Lewis and her assistant nurse are labouring under conditions suggestive of half a century ago. Great delay has been shown by those responsible in getting matters properly organised after the setting up bf the hospital, and these was delay enough i in the actual discovery of what was happening at Muhunoa. The people of Ohau have been very considerate in sending eggs, milk, soups, etc., for the 'patients, but the trouble is that these foods should be prepared close at hand by the setting up of proper cooking arrangements. DrT Valentine, .Chief Health Officer, together With other officials of the Department, visited the hospital to-day, and it is to be hoped that somikof th'e shortcomings of the camp will be made good, and matters generally put dn mor* ■mtisfnrtory footing. '