Outbreak’s fumbled response

Taro chips ruled out as typhoid source.

Contaminated taro chips brought into the country from Samoa were initially feared to have caused a deadly typhoid outbreak in Auckland — but three months later, the real reason remains a mystery.

Documents released under the Official Information Act show health authorities scrambling to keep the public updated after a breakdown in communication when news broke that 10 people had been hospitalised with typhoid fever.

The outbreak was made public late afternoon on Friday, March 31. Officials had identified an outbreak more than a week earlier. That a woman had died from the disease was not made public until April 4.

In a series of emails from Auckland Regional Public Health Service, health authorities dealing with a then-small outbreak discussed the possibility taro chips could be the culprit.

A favourite snack in Samoa, they are produced commercially as well as by locals who sell them at markets. They are a popular gift to bring home.

An email on March 23 from medical officer of communicable diseases, Dr Bruce Adlam, said: “We are investigating an outbreak of typhoid (3) in an extended Pacific Island family secondary, we think, to the consumption of taro chips from Samoa.”

The emails were released to the Labour Party under the Official Information Act and obtained by the Herald on Sunday.

This week, ARPHS medical officer Dr David Sinclair confirmed they had ruled out the link, but there was not enough evidence to create a definitive link to any particular source.

All the typhoid cases — which increased to 22 confirmed — were connected to the Mt Albert Samoan Assembly of God church, whose weekly services were held at Wesley Primary School in Mt Roskill.

The documents indicate moves to have the typhoid prevention messages translated into Samoan were slow and a failure to connect with Pacific networks, including church and community leaders and Pasifika media outlets, from the outset.

The Ministry of Health’s chief adviser for Pacific Health, Matafanua Hilda Fa’asalele, raised the concerns after spotting the news and acknowledged they had access to key people within the Samoan and wider Pacific communities who could spread the messages, but were not called upon.

An email from director of protection, regulation and assurance, Dr Stewart Jessamine, told her: “Not aware of any specific community messaging going out from ARPHS. I understand they are trying to use their Pacific liaison staff but still having problems.”

The ARPHS came under fire after

Officials point out ‘significant lessons’ to be learned.

it was revealed they had known about the outbreak for several days before alerting the public.

The Ministry of Health was told a few hours earlier there were 10 cases of typhoid in Auckland. Health Minister Jonathan Coleman found out about the extent of the outbreak while watching the 6 o’clock news.

Furthermore, the Samoan Government was not made aware of the issue until news broke and an official contacted New Zealand authorities for more information and advice.

Samoa later issued an advisory to locals who had travelled to Auckland and had fever-like symptoms to see a doctor urgently.

There is to be a review of how such cases are handled, with the Ministry of Health and Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet pointing out “significant lessons” to be learned.