DISEASES IN THE PACIFIC ISLANDS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1406, 17 October 1885, Page 2

DISEASES IN THE PACIFIC ISLANDS.

A letter has been received by Sir J. J. Vogel fr m Dr Alexander, of Dunedin, who is at present in Fiji, regarding the fever epidemic at Sura and Levuka. Dr Alexander saw the Chief Medical Officers at those places, and these concur that the dengue fever of India has been epidemic in the group for about four months, brought probably from New Caledonia. The disease attacked all races, but is most generalamong the white population, there have bsen no deaths. The symptoms were prostration, severe pains in the head and eyeballs (latter aitvavs very marked), pains in limbs, and in many cases a rash after five or six days. After the illness, the rash was followed by desquamation of the surface of the skin,

skin. He made special enquiry about ihe period of incubation, which was, as far as could be ascertained, four to six days. The epidemic is now on the decline. Dr Alexander is of opinion that a medical inspection of steamers at the Bay of Islands is sufficient precaution to prevent the introduction of the disease to New Zealand. Cerebro spinal meningitis has occurred at at Suva and some other places in the principal islands, and had to a limited extent taken an epidemic form. The total number attacked was seventy, of whom fifty-five died. No case has occurred among the Fijians, Europeans, or Indians. A white child died at Kewa from meningitis, but there was not sufficient information to establish the case as one of the more formidable diseases. Whether the disease is infectious he thinks is not known for a certainty, but his view inclines to the belief that it can be communicated. Considering its fatal nature, it would be a prudent measure to obtain, each month, from the Government of Fiji, a report of its progress, and whether it continues limited to the Polynesian laborers. If it attacked the white population, it would be then time to consider the best means to prevent its introduction into New Zealand. The Government have issued instructions to make a very careful examination of all vessels from the Pacific Islands arriving Russell or Auckland.