THE EPIDEMIC.

Taranaki Daily News, 29 January 1919, Page 4

THE EPIDEMIC.

IN AUSTRALIA,

ONE-FIFTH OF SAMOAN POPULATION DIE.

WHOLE VILLAGES WIPED OUT.

By Telegraph.—Press A»soci»tio». Wellington, Last Night.

A person who was at Samoa at the time of the influenza epidemic says i~.*> one-fifth of the population died of the disease. The total number of deaths was between 8000 and 10,000 in the whole group. In several instances whole villages were wiped out. The whit* people who died numbered 27, besides members of the New Zealand garrison who succumbed. Among the victims wore the whole of the well-known Nelson family, except Noel Nelson.

ALL PUBLIC PLACES CL( iEtt RUSH FOR INOCULATION ANA ' MASKS. Received Jan. 28, 9.25 p.m. Sydney, Jan. 28. Another case of influenza has been sent to the hospital. ' i The Governor has issued a proclamation closing libraries, schools, churches, theatres, public halls and all indoor amusements.

Inoculation depots are besieged, and thousands line the streets awaiting their turn. There is a great demand for masks, the stocks being quickly exhaust* ed. The Governor set an example by attending the cricket match wearing af mask.

TWENTY-SIX DEATHS IS MELBOURNE,. }

Received Jan. 28, S.2S p.m. Melbourne, Jan. 28.

Victoria has been declared infecteA Steps are being taken to quarantine th« State. There aro 378 cases in tho hos-. pitals and 28 deaths. Traffic between the infected States is permitted, but none allowed between the infected and clem States.

PRECAUTIONS AGAINST RECURRENCE.

Wellington, Last Night

The Minister of Public Health said today that in view of the outbreak of influenza in Australia the chief health officer had reported that ail oversea vessels arriving in New Zealand from this date should be quarantined for twenty-four •hours in order for a thorough examination to bo made with regard to all persons aboard, so as to prevent any recrudescence of the epidemic in the Dominion. The Minister regretted the inconvenience that must be caused to the travelling public, but this course was considered necessary because the Government could not take the risk of having another outbreak here. Precautions would have to be taken.

SAN FRANCISCO OUTBREAK. RECUrJtENCE~O!? DISEASE. The officers of the Moana, which n'» rived at Wellington last week front San Francisco, state that when the vessel arrived at tho Californian port there had been an almost complete abatement of tho influenza epidemic. During the vessel's six day's stay at thnt port, however, there was a fresh outbreak, and many new coses were reported. The compulsory wearing of masks in the streets had been discontinued when the Moana was there, and business was back to normal. Every effort was being made to suppress tho new outbreak. When the Moana was e:i route to San Francisco eho called at Papeete. Tho epidemic had been raging Lt the Taliitian port for 10 days, during which GOO deaths had occurred there. On the return trip the epidemic was found to have abated, but a few sporadic ':a*2»; were being treated.