Small-Pox Scare in Suva

Prom Our Own Correspondent

SUVA. June 19.

NUKULAU ISLAND, the week-end haunt of Suva yachtsmen and others, is closed to the public, and again the island is being prepared as a quaran tine station because the ship “Orna is coming from India.

Somewhere between Calcutta and Singa pore an Indian woman passenger in the Orna developed smallpox. She and her family were put ashore at Singapore on June 3, and the remaining 374 passengers were re-vaccinated.

Only about 12 per cent, of the popula tion of Fiji is vaccinated and it is plain that, once in, nothing could stop a disease like smallpox from sweeping the C °Up ny to the middle of June, and since the “Orna” news broke about 400 inocula tions had been given at Suva. Of these, 170 were given to Fijian wharf-workers, who came forward in response to an appeal based on the fact that a great many Fijians will be required to unload the “Orna’s” Indian cargo.

Fijians had been apprehensive about this coming Asiatic visitation. The official statement said that the ship would be Kept out in the harbour for two days, that it would be thoroughly fumigated, and that it would not be permitted to approach the wharf until the medical authorities are satisfied that there is no danger of infection.