Papua Polio Epidemic Is

Over

Tragic Death of Clifford Kruse

From a Special Correspondent

Samarai, Sept. 2.

A CLOSE investigation does not make it appear that blame for the tragic deatn of Clifford Kruse, young American journalist, at Losuia, on Kiri wina island, in the Trobriands, on August 6 can be laid at the door of any official, as was suggested by the article published in August PIM.

It appears that Mr. Kruse was on Kiriwina island in July, when Polio myelitis was first reported, and before quarantine was proclaimed. A Medical Assistant was handling the situation there, and he warned Mr. Kruse of the danger of entering the villages. Mr.

Kruse moved about freely, however.

Mr. Kruse then went back from Kiri wina to Samarai, with the intention of returning to the Trobriands to do a par ticular story. He was warned that the epidemic was spreading, and quarantine might be proclaimed.

He spent three days in the Samarai i Milne Bay area, and then sought to return to the Trobriands, to Kitava. He was told by the Assistant District Officer and the Medical Assistant that it would be impossible for him to return to the Trobriands, as Misima and Kiriwina sub districts were about to be placed under quarantine—and on July 29 they were so quarantined.

Mr. Kruse, however, secured a passage on the Health Department’s vessel Hekaha, from Samarai to Kitava, on July 30.

When the Hekaha arrived in the Tro briands, she was met at Kiriwina (Losuia) by the Medical Officer, Dr. May.

Dr. May desired to proceed in the Hekaha direct to Misima, where it was reported that both the Medical Officer and the Medical Assistant were ill, probably from Polio.

Mr. Kruse wanted to go on to the ad joining island of Kitava. Dr. May would not permit it—first, because Kitava was not under quarantine and Kiriwina was; and, second, because he wanted to get to Misima without delay. He said Kruse must remain on Kiriwina, in quarantine.

Mr. Kruse naturally resented this action very strongly, and appealed for help.

However, the stand taken by the medical men was justified by the fact that Kruse, a little later, was found to be suffering from Polio, which he had contracted on his earlier visit to Kiriwina. He died in the Medical Assistant’s house at Losuia after a very brief illness.

The medical report is that “it was ex tremely rapid but classical acute anterior poliomyelitis, with bulbar paralysis.”

The Chief Medical Officer has expressed the opinion, based on all the circum stances, that Mr. Kruse undoubtedly had been infected during his first visit to Kiriwina; and his death came so rapidly, when he did fall ill, that no treatment c<Duld have saved him—he would have died even had he remained at Samarai on July 30, or been taken to hospital at Port Moresby. * * * THE Polio epidemic in the islands east of Papua died down almost as sud denly as it flared up; and a Gazette notice of August 26 revoked the quaran tine declaration over the Trobriands sub-district. But 33 cases of Polio occurred since the epidemic appeared in June, and one European and seven natives died of the disease in Kiriwina and Misima.