MEASLES SPREADS

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21214, 10 September 1940, Page 4

MEASLES SPREADS

NOW IN THREE CAMPS CASES AMONG CIVILIANS 39 TROOPS IN HOSPITAL With cases developing at the Hopu Hopu and Claudlands military camps yesterday, and further cases at the Te Rapa isolation camp, the measles epidemic among the troops is spreading. In addition ,the outbreak has passed to the civilian population and several cases are reported in the Waikato. While the nature of the measles still remains mild, the epidemic is spreading to the extent of becoming a serious nuisance in the military camps. Yesterday seven soldiers were admitted to the emergency hospital at the new Hamilton West School, two being Hopu Hopu soldiers, one from Claudelands where the 7th Medium Battery of the New Zealand Artillery is in training, and the other four from the Te Rapa camp, which has been in isolation for five days. Thirty-nine soldiers are now at the hospital. The two cases from Hopu Hopu, it is stated, are troops who have been on leave, one having entered camp yesterday from a few days’ leave following his transfer from the Papakura mobilisation camp. Infection From Outside The Medical Officer of Health in Hamilton, Dr. C. B. Gilberd, stated to-day that the troops at Hopu Hopu V/-ho developed measles yesterday, could not have contracted the complaint from the soldiers in isolation at Te Rapa who passed through the Hopu Hopu camp on Friday after having come from the south. The incubation period was too short, and it appeared the men must have contracted the measles from outside. About 14 days elapsed between the time of infection and development of the first outward signs of the disease. The extent of the outbreak of measles among the civilian population cannot be gauged accurately, as it is not a notifiable disease. It is known that numbers of cases have developed, however.

Question of Isolation Whether the troops at Te Rapa have passed the measles on to the camp at Hopu Hopu, where they were on Friday, is not yet known, as 14 days would elapse before it would develop. In fact, at least that time will pass before the extent of the epidemic will be apparent, in the opinion of Dr. H. L. Gould, superintendent of the Waikato Hospital, who said it would probably be three weeks before it was known where the outbreak would stop as far as the soldiers were concerned. The measles were of a mild type, but the epidemic, he said, was assuming the form of a serious nuisance for the military authorities.

In the meantime it has not been considered necessary to declare the Hopu Hopu camp an isolation area, stated the camp authorities to-day The Medical Officer of Health visited Claudelands this morning and a decision will be reached later whether that camp will have to be isolated.