in Rarotonga

NZ Medical Research in Rarotonga

From Our Own Correspondent

Rarotonga. Jan. 20.

UNDER the auspices of the Department of Island Territories and the Medi cal Research Council of New Zea land, four members of the staff of the University of Otago are at present en gaged in research work in the Cook Islands. Every possible facility has been placed at their disposal by the Adminis trative staff of the islands, and the islanders themselves have been extremely friendly, interested and co-operative.

Work is being concentrated on the island of Rarotonga in the two villages of Nga tangia and Arorangi.

The most common disease in the Cook Islands, as indeed in a large part of tropical Polynesia, is Filariasis, a term covering a variety of complaints resulting from an infection of a small nematode worm. The worm is transmitted from an infected to a healthy person by the bite of a mosquito, so that the cure for the complaint in its most efficient form, lies in the elimination of the mosquito. Up to the present, all efforts have been con centrated on the destruction of breeding sites, such as coconut shells, meat tins and similar small containers, but it has been found by a recent survey that the number of infected persons on Rarotonga is so great, that although the diminution in numbers of the mosquito has made for more comfortable living, the number of in fections has not been appreciably re duced.

Dr. G. H. Satchell, who arrived a fort night before the main party, is investi gating the possibility of residual spraying with DDT to control the disease, it is possible that this spraying, when concen trated in dwelling houses, will reduce the number of new infections by killing the mosquito before it reaches the infective stage. The problem hinges on the pro portion of infections which occur in the house, as compared with the proportion derived in the open air. It is hoped that the study now proceeding will determine this factor.

Sir Charles Hercus, Dr. Faine, and Mr.

J. A. Samuels, assisted by Dr. T. R. A.

Davis and his staff locally, are engaged in a survey of the health conditions of a number of family groups in the village of Arorangi, this with a view to determining the most important problems confronting the people generally and medically.

Clinical studies are being correlated with laboratory findings and surveys of family environment and general living conditions.

While it is yet premature to discuss re sults, the contention of the Medical Ser vice that there is an undue amount of preventable illness is already fully con firmed. Filariasis, parasitic diseases of the intestine and diseases of the teeth and gums appear to be almost universal.

However, despite the abundant evidence of financial stringency among Cook Islanders it is reassuring to find that there is no evidence so far of serious malnu trition, and the long-held belief that the natives of this island have a protein-de ficient diet is not born out by blood examination.

It is believed that the value of the present study will not be confined to Rarotonga but will be generally applicable to the various Islands of the Cook Group.

Mr. Charles Godhard, who has been tutor to the Bull children of Dreketi, Vanua Levu, Fiji, has now joined the staff of Bums Philp (SS) Ltd. at Lautoka.

Because of engine trouble, a BCPA DC6 airliner had to leave its 18 passengers on Canton Island on February 1 and fly on to Fiji on three engines. Some of the passengers were picked up the following day by a PAA Skymaster; the remainder waited on Canton for the next BCPA plane. The disabled plane reached Sydney about 7 p.m. on February 2, still flying on three engines. Because of bad visibility Mascot aerodrome was closed

and the plane had to be diverted to Bris bane.

Fiji’s Towns Ordinance has been amended 12 times in 14 years, and much ot it still relates mainly to Suva. On the recommendation of its new chairman iMr. E. F. Corbett), the Lautoka Town Board decided on January 12 to ask the Government for an entirely new Ordin ance for the control of Lautoka.