OUTBREAK OF FEVER.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 January 1916, Page 7

OUTBREAK OF FEVER.

REPORT OX RECENT EPIDEMIC. MILD CASES IN CLIFTON COUNTY. The recent outbreak of fever in New Plymouth formed the subject of a re- j port from the health inspector (Mr. A. H. Kendall) to the Taranaki Hospital Board, which was read at yesterday's meeting. The inspector stated:—'"l have the honor to report that during the past month the following eases of infections disease have been notified in the district: One ease of scarlet fever in the Taranaki comity; four cases of diphtheria in Now Plymouth, .two in Waitara and five in the Clifton county; seven cases of enteric fever in New Plymouth, one in Waitara and one in the Clifton county. I made the fullest possible and exhaustive investigation into the outbreak of typhoid fever in New Plymouth, and found that one of the men who first started with the disease had been at work lowering the contents' of an old well which had been receiving drainage waters for some years fromtwo residences in Leach street and owned by the patient (since deceased). 1 found that he Jiad on'several days, or parts of days, been engaged in pinnpingpart of the contents into the street, and later on, through this or some otlifcr cause, had developed typhoid fever, and all tie other cases of the same disease in New Plymouth were directly traveable or came from the hoarding-house at which he was then staying One of the other patients is also, unfortunately, since deceased. All the cases occurred about and since Christmas, and daring the whole of the Ohristmus and New Year vacation I left no stone unturned to discover, if possible, the origin of the dissase, and to. see to,the efficient disinfection of all premises concerned, and to trace as far a3 possible all suspects who had left. Dr. Smith, from the Publlif Health Department in Wellington, also caine up and made full' enquiries into all the cases, visited the hospital and boarding-liouse, and made several inspections, - and is, I believe, dealing with the matter of improvements required at the house in Leach street in the way of recommendations. The boarding-liouse has been prohibited from taking any more boarders for at least one month, and frequent calls at the premises show that the instruction is being complied with. "The eases of > typhoid as notified in the Clifton county and Waitara were of an- extremely mild form or type; in one case the patient was well in a week, and in the other the patient is, I understand, being now treated for another complaint. Diphtheria still claims a few victims, and the notifications show an increase in the Clifton county and New Plymouth, and a decrease in Waitara. The only case of scarlet fever notified reecived prompt attention, rku the absence of further cases is satisfactory. The one case of anterior polymyelitis has been carefully isolated, a*d the premises of both cases of tuberculosis have been visited, ahd thorough disinfection carried out in all cases possible. During the month I have visited Warea to disinfect promises after tuberculosis; also Urenui, Waitara and Inglewood; also the Puniho road to inspect cjicese factories in accordance with instructions received, also a linesmen's camp after a suspected case of typhoid and disinfected the premises, and visited all cases of infectious disease as notified."