Report on the public health / Southern Rhodesia.

  • Southern Rhodesia. Department of Health.
Date:
[1931]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Report on the public health / Southern Rhodesia. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    20/36 (page 14)
    Recent research lias disclosed facts which render yellow fever even a greater danger than was previously supposed, notably the following :— (1) Many infectious cases present such slight symptoms that it is impossible to recognise them. (2) Persons may become infected from patients without any intervention of mosquitoes. It has also been found that the virus is sometimes transmitted from one mosquito to another without the intervention of a human host. (3) Human cases must be regarded as being infectious during the incubation period of the disease, as well as during the first three days of the attack, and it is probable that the patient is most dangerous before any symptoms have shown themselves. The principal vector of the yellow fever virus, the Aedes argenteus (Stegomyia fasciata) mosquito, is widely distributed in Southern Rhodesia. This insect will bite during the day time. In addition, Aedes vittatus and Aedes simpsoni, two other Southern Rhodesia mosquitoes, are known to convey yellow fever. It is possible that further research may show that other kinds of mosquitoes, such as Culex fatigans, the commonest mosquito in Southern Rhodesia, or other species, may also act as vectors. The French Aero-Postal Service propose to establish a trans-African service from France to Madagascar. The proposed route will be from Oran, in Morocco, across the Sahara to Miamey, thence to Lake Chad and Coquilhatville, whence the Belgian air route to Elizabethville will be followed. From Elizabethville the service will be continued to Broken Hill, where it will connect with the Imperial Airways route. There is therefore the possibility of passengers who may have come from yellow fever areas in the west transferring at Broken Hill from the French service to Imperial Airways. Infected passengers from a known yellow fever area can thus readily arrive in Southern Rhodesia wuthin the period of incubation of yellow fever, which is six days, as also can infected mosquitoes. The latter remain infectious till the end of their lives. It is therefore necessary for Southern Rhodesia to adopt suitable precautions to prevent yellow fever from entering the country. The facts outlined above show that, having once taken root, especially among the native population, it might cause a disaster which would be most serious to the health and the trade of the Colony. The Permanent Committee of the Office International d’Hygiene Publique has drawn up an international convention for the sanitary control of aircraft, which lays down special precautions to be adopted against the introduction of yellow fever and of other formidable epidemic diseases by aeroplanes. It is proposed to adopt measures for the protection of the Colony on the lines laid down in this convention. (2) Town Planning. In my report of last year attention wras drawn to the necessity for further legislation in regard to town planning, and to the fact that there is urgent need for better control of the development of towns and the laying out of roads and streets. It was pointed out that Southern Rhodesia is at present in a favourable position to deal with matters which a few years later may be beyond remedy, or only remediable at great expense. The legislation which is at present contained in the Public Health Act and in the Municipal Act is inadequate, with the result that municipalities are at present hampered by lack of control of the development of their towns and of the land surrounding their areas, which eventually will be absorbed therein, and which therefore vitally concerns these authorities. The Colonial Secretary appointed a committee of experts to draw up a Bill for this purpose, which it is hoped will come before the Legislative Assembly next year. The contents of this Bill were laid before the Municipal Congress held in Urntali in March, 1930, and were unanimously approved by the representatives of local authorities present. Some important provisions of the Bill are as follows:— (1) Definite procedure is laid down for the use of persons wishing to sub¬ divide their land for the purpose of townships and building sites.