Mysterious Outbreak of Polio
p. 17 · Read in the full issue
Polio In BSI No Contacts With Infected Areas In Aust.-NZ
Honiara, Jan. 22.
POLIOMYELITIS appeared mysteri ously among the native population of the BSI Protectorate on Decem ber 15, when a native prisoner at Honiara proved to be an infantile paralysis victim.
Simultaneously in Christmas week, 17 other cases were reported from three widely separated areas at Hobu Hobu (Western Solomons), on Malaita, at Ruavatu (on the Guadalcanal coast).
There was also one more case in Honiara.
A special announcement by the SMO over the Government radio station, was made on January 5, urging all Govern ment and mission personnel to be on the look-out for cases and outlining isolation measures and treatment.
Meanwhile reports coming in from scattered areas, many of them of cases dating back as far as mid-November, brought the total cases up to 76, by January 18.
It has been impossible to trace the origin of the outbreak or to link it with outside sources. In some instances, cases occurred in remote villages having no contact with the out side world. In Honiara, where close on 1,000 natives are now on the Government pay-roll and where any epidemic might be expected to take its toll the disease has been comparatively light only 16 patients being admitted to the special ward set aside for polio sufferers at Central Hospital. The only conclusion seems to be that a mild form of polio is endemic in BSI.
Male adolescents have been the most affected age-group, with' young women and children in the minority.
It is too early as yet to say what pro portion of patients will show permanent crippling. The majority of cases have been extremely light, the patients being no more troubled than as sufferers from a common cold. Death has occurred in only two or three instances.
To protect those areas unaffected, local shipping will be controlled until Febru ary 22, when the position will again be reviewed.
The little Honiara school for eight European children is closed until further notice. No Europeans have contracted the disease to date.
No shipping from the Protectorate is allowed to visit New Guinea ports. By arrangement with the New Hebrides,
special precautions are being observed in connection with the Trans-Oceanic plane due to visit here on January 24 to pick up seven passengers for Sydney, via Santo and Vila.
It will land at Tulagi, as the Nggela area is totally unaffected.
Sydney, Feb. 2.
WHEN Mr. B. Monkton of Trans oceanic Airways returned from BSI to-day he said that Solomon Islanders had thrown off the disease in a remarkable fashion. They were mak ing full recoveries within 10 days.