Typhus Outbreak Cuts Off Furbo - 1942
While the rest of the world was fighting the spread of Fascism in November 1942, the people of Furbo and beyond were waging a war of their own - against a Typhus outbreak in Connemara.
The Evening Herald reported that local opposition was hampering the efforts, however.
As a precaution, following 13 cases and one death, public health authorities had cut off an area of 175 square miles - Furbo west to Casla - from the rest of the world.
They were met with a lot of disquiet, however, with people objecting to themselves and their homes being 'disinfected', and to restrictions placed on their movement. In one case, a doctor was hit in the head with an 'iron instrument' during the course of his duties.
Report from the Evening Herald, 21 November 1942.
Evening Herald, Saturday, November 21, 1942 (page 1).
An area extending from the village of Furbo to Costello on the Galway coast, and covering over 175 square miles, has been "closed" for the past fortnight by the Galway Public Health authorities in their effort to fight an outbreak of typhus.
Thirteen cases have been reported already, and one death has occurred. All schools in the area have been closed. A cleansing station has been set up at Spiddal to facilitate of disinfecting the people in the affected area.
An unfortunate feature of the outbreak is the opposition that the public health authorities have encountered in their work. Yesterday, when Dr C. F. McConn, acting M.O.H. Galway, was superintending the disinfecting of a house, he was hit on the head with an iron instrument. The blow, however, was not of a serious nature, and Dr McConn was able to continue with his work today.
There have been several demonstrations in the area during the past week by people who apparently object to the work of having their homes and themselves disinfected.
Near one village, a road was blocked with stones when an ambulance was on its way to remove a case to Galway. The obstruction was removed by Gardai, who have been drafted into the district to assist the medical authorities in their work in face of the local opposition.
The area has been declared "closed" to prevent any unnecessary traffic to and from it. Migratory labourers have not been allowed to travel, and there is a general restriction on the movements of other people.
There have been no new cases during the last few days, and the authorities are hopeful that they have checked the spread of the disease.
"Our work could have been made a lot easier," an official said. "If we had got the co-operation that we expected from the local people. It is rather difficult to understand the reason for the opposition they have shown."
None of the cases in the Galway Fever Hospital is serious.
What is Typhus?
Fleas, mites, lice, or ticks - known collectively as anthropoids - can transmit Typhus in their bites, if they carry around the rickettsial bacteria.
Scratching the bite further opens the skin and allows the bacteria greater access to the bloodstream. Once in the bloodstream, the bacteria continue to reproduce and grow.
These days, Typhus outbreaks usually only occur in developing countries or in regions of poverty, poor sanitation, and close human contact.
Untreated, it can lead to serious complications, and is potentially fatal.