A SMALLPOX SCARE

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 698, 25 June 1929, Page 9

A SMALLPOX SCARE

CASE OF BOY ABOARD AORANGI PASSENGERS CALLED UP SYDNEY, Monday. A definite case of smallpox wa» diagnosed today. The patient is ons of the boys of the Young Australia League who returned by the Aorangi on Saturday from a tour abroad. When the vessel was berthed at Sydney two boys were under the doctor. One was suffering from chickenpox and is recovering. The other developed smallpox. The Health Department is calling up all the other boys of the league, passengers to the number of 4SS and the crew of 350 men for examination and possible vaccination. The Union Steam Ship Company immediately informed Mr. J. Simons, officer-in-charge of the boys on the tour. Mr. Simons says he had eight cases w*ith symptoms similar to those shown by the stricken boy. All occurred in Canada or the United States and all were diagnosed as chickenpox. The Auckland medical officer of health. Dr. T. J. Hughes, stated this morning that with smallpox theie was only a slight risk of infection before the disease showed. Smallpox was not like measles, from which there was danger of infection before the disease showed itself. Consequently, there is little cause for apprehension locally. The 159 members of the Young Australia League have just returned from a. tour abroad, and when the Aorangi called at Auckland last week they v'ere entertained in the city.