CASES OF SMALLPOX

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 May 1943, Page 3

CASES OF SMALLPOX

ON RETURNING HOSPITAL SHIP MINISTERIAL ANNOUNCEMENT. PRECAUTIONS TAKEN (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. An outbreak of smallpox had occurred in a hospital ship carrying New Zealand personnel while en route from the Middle East to New Zealand, stated the Prime Minister, Mr Fraser, yesterday. One patient, who was disembarked at Colombo, subsequently died, and three other cases of modified smallpox were landed at an Australian port. All appropriate measures of isolation, disinfection and vaccination had been carried out. Fortunately, no further cases had occurred. “I regret very much,” Mr Fraser added, “that in the circumstances it is impossible to extend the same scale of welcome home to the men returning by this ship, or to enable them to be met by their relatives and friends. Due to the circumstances mentioned, it was . considered inadvisable to notify next-of-kin of the impending arrival of the hospital ship, as is usually done several days beforehand.” Reference to the outbreak was also made by the Minister of Health, Mr Nordmeyer. “Conferences of various interested departments,” he said, “have been held in order to discuss the measures which should be taken on arrival of the ship to safeguard the community against all possible risks of importation of the disease. These precautions necessarily mean restriction on the access of friends to patients arriving by the hospital ship. The patients, staff and crew have all been carefully examined by the Medical Officer of Health at Wellington, Dr. Hubert Smith, who has had extensive experience in dealing with smallpox. Relatives will be notified as soon as possible to lift certain restrictions on visiting which it has been necessary in the public interest to impose.”