BUBONIC PLAGUE.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 September 1921, Page 5

BUBONIC PLAGUE.

OUTBREAK AT BRISBANE

RATS INFECTED.

By Telegraph.—Press Assn. —Copyright. Brisbane, Sept. 15.

An outbreak of bubonic plague is announced at South Brisbane, and one death is reported. The health authorities concealed the matter for 21 days. Investigations proved that six rats examined were infected.

Sydney, Sept. 15. Strict precautions have been adopted with vessels from Brisbane in view of the outbreak of plague there. The Brisbane plague victim was an employee in a produce store. Besides six infected rats found in South Brisbane, two were caught in the North Brisbane area with suspicious symptoms. z The Home Secretary announced in the Assembly that there was no need for public alarm as fifteen, days had passed since the original case was discovered, and no more suspicious cases bad been reported since. Action was being taken to destroy rats on the waterfront and in warehouses. Other restrictive measures were being enforced.

AUTHORITIES BLAMED. OUTBREAK UNDER CONTROL. Received Sept. 15, 9.45 p.m. Melbourne, Sept. 15. Mr. Cumpston, Director of Public Health, vigorously condemned the Queensland authorities for concealing the case of bubonic plague, as the most valuable period for the prevention of the spread of the disease had been lost. He added that although the necessary precautions were now being taken it was quite possible the disease had already made its way to other Australian ports, as a result of delay by the Queensland Government. Brisbane, Sept. 15.

At a conference the Home Secretary, the Health Commissioner, and the Federal quarantine officer discussed the plague. They announced subsequently that there was no justification for any scare, as probably the difficulty would be surmounted without a further human case occurring. Citizens are co-operating in the rat destruction crusade launched at the end of August, although the people were not then aware that the activity was due to the plague.