From the Archives, 1921: Bubonic plague outbreak in Brisbane

First published in The Sydney Morning Herald on September 16, 1921

BUBONIC PLAGUE, FATAL CASE IN BRISBANE.
OUTBREAK CONCEALED.
HEALTH DIRECTOR’S SEVERE COMMENTS.
MELBOURNE, Thursday.

Dr. Cumpston, Director of the Commonwealth Health Department, declared to-day that bubonic plague had broken out in Brisbane.

“The concealment of the fact that bubonic plague had been discovered in Brisbane,” said Dr. Cumpston, “has deprived the officers of the Commonwealth Health Department of the opportunity of taking effective-measures for the protection of the other States.”

“The Queensland Health Department,” he continued, “has known of the case since August 23, and the Commonwealth department was not notified until September 13. This period was the most effective for taking measures to prevent the spread of the disease, and much lost time has now to be recovered.

“The seriousness of the position is not lost sight of by the Federal health authorities, because the disease may have been spreading, not to human beings, but to rats, which, in turn, will pass it on. Full information of the circumstances has not yet been received in Melbourne, but a conference between the Federal and State health officers was to have been held at Brisbane to-day.

“Strict measures for the prevention of the migration of rats have been instituted, and all cargo on every vessel leaving Brisbane will be thoroughly inspected before it is loaded, in order to make it rat proof. A system of patrol is also being carried out to ensure that rats do not enter the vessels surreptitiously.

“The same rigid inspection will be instituted at all Commonwealth ports at which vessels from Brisbane arrive. Cargo which might harbour rats will be inspected before discharge, and when the vessel is empty it will be fumigated. In addition, there will also be medical inspection of passengers and crew to find out if there is any case of human plague on board.