TYPHOID OUTBREAK

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 792, 12 October 1929, Page 1

TYPHOID OUTBREAK

EPIDEMIC SPREADS IN CHRISTCHURCH OYSTERS MAY BE CAUSE Press Association CHRISTCHURCH, Today. ‘‘Never in my experience have there been so many cases of typhoid fever in the Christchurch Hospital,” said Dr. Pearson, pathologist at the hospital, this morning. "I cannot remember more than three at the same time before, and at present there are six definite cases.” Dr. Pearson explained that the present outbreak presented serious features. “Previously when two or three cases have come in they have generally originated in some country district, and have originated from contact with the first case. The cases at present appear to have no relation at all, and have arisen independently.” Today the pathological department began an analysis oi the oysters which have been suggested as the cause of the outbreak, but there will be no definite pronouncement available for five days. Dr. Pearson is of the opinion that if the infection has arisen from oysters it is highly improbable that all the beds are infected, but perhaps one bed may have been tainted.

“We may get nothing from our search,” he said. “We are testing the oysters merely because that class of food is frequently a cause of the disease in other countries. The disease has such a wide range of symptoms that it is a very difficult one to be suspicious of.”