A meeting of the No 1 District Council was held on Saturday, presided over by Mr R J Ryan, to address the ongoing typhoid outbreak in the city. A letter from Mr J J Peacocke, enclosing a report from Dr McGrath, the Medical Sanitary Officer of Health, was read during the meeting. The report raised concerns about the polluted condition of Killalee well, which was identified as the source of the recent typhoid cases. The Public Health Committee of the Corporation requested the council to permanently close the well and provide a pure water supply immediately.

Dr McGrath’s report stated that up to the present, 32 cases of typhoid had been reported in the city. The outbreak was initially traced to the use of milk from a local dairy and water from Killalee well. Dr McGrath and Professor McWeeney conducted analyses, which revealed that the water from the well was unfit for consumption. He emphasized that it was the worst water sample he had encountered during his tenure.

Dr McGrath’s investigation suggested that 19 of the cases were directly related to water from Killalee well, with additional sporadic cases potentially linked to the unfiltered river water supply used at the time. He expressed hope that the epidemic was subsiding following the closure of Killalee well and a change in weather conditions.

In response to the situation, the council made the decision to permanently close Killalee well and temporarily close Drombana well. They also requested an estimate for sinking a pump at Pennywell to provide a safe water supply.

Limerick Echo – Tuesday 05 September 1905