Medical Officer's annual report [to] Durban Corporation.

  • Durban (South Africa). Public Health Department.
Date:
[1912]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Medical Officer's annual report [to] Durban Corporation. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    157/178 (page 78)
    78 SPORADIC CASES. Two instances have occurred of a Plague infected rat being found in a place separated from any known focus of the disease by very long distances, and without any apparent further spread of the disease. The mode by which the infected rodent arrived in that area and the source of its infection arc matters only of surmise. The following two examples may be cited: — On the Gth February a Plague infected rat was found dead on the roadway near Lancers Road, at the foot of the Perea. A thorough search was made ot all premises in the neighbourhood, but no further Plague infected rats were discovered. Three weeks later, however, a native suffering from Plague was discovered occupying Kafir quarters in the back-yard of a Chinaman's shop situated at the corner of Perea and Lancers Roads, and within a very short distance of where the body of the dead rat was found. The Plague infected rat and the Plague infected native were the only cases of Plague infection in this neighbourhood. The disease must have been transported to this neighbour¬ hood; it certainly was not carried there by migration of rats from a Plague infected centre. On the other hand the human Plague case may have had no causal dependency on the infected Plague rat. Again, on the 80th March, a Plague infected rat was killed in the Corpora¬ tion Blacksmith’s Shop, Brook Street. Nine more rats and mice were got from these premises, all of which proved to be free from Plague. The Corporation Stables closely adjoin these workshops, but with the exception of this one rat, no other rats captured or found dead within a considerable distance showed any signs of Plague infection. The discovery of such Plague infected rat was made the occasion of dealing with an area around of considerable magnitude, and these, as well as all Plague infected areas, were materially improved as to sanitary and hygienic conditions, by the appearance of even such a solitary Plague infected rodent as described. The difficulty of accounting for the origin or source of human cases was also apparent in several instances. The second native who died at King's Rest, the Indian hawker who was found dead at Redhill, and the native umfaan at Umgeni Quarries, are instances that occurred outside the Borough. The last two cases in the outbreak were a native in First Avenue and an Indian clulu in Victoria Street. In neither of these cases could any evidence be obtained connecting the individual with any known focus of the disease. Owing to the liability of the Point area to be invaded by Plague at any time, I think that in future wood and iron buildings with linings should be prohibited in that area. All wood and iron buildings already in existence should be provided with floors of concrete or other solid material. It is not when Plague breaks out that such steps should be taken, but in inter-plague I periods a commencement should be made with such steps as will lessen the | vulnerability of the Point area to a spread of Plague infection. This practically \ resolves itself into diminishing harbourages for rats and maintaining existing ; buildings in such a structural condition as will secure such premises against the ingress of rats. EXPENDITURE. Following on an interview during the progress of the outbreak between the Mayor of Durban and the Minister for the Interior, the latter intimated that Government would bear all expenditure on measures taken in the Port area, on Salisbury Island, and in all areas under Government control, outside the jurisdiction of the Durban Borough. For expenditure incurred in dealing with Plague in the Borough the question whether the Corporation would beai the whole of such expense or only a proportion, was left over for later considera¬ tion, Government to continue making all payments in respect of all areas as in the past.