Søgan um nátasjúkuna í Føroyum

Abstract

In the 1930's there was an epidemic in the Faroes of a previously unknown serious infection. During the first years it was most
prevalent on Suðuroy, Sandoy and Skúvoy, and then later spread all over the Faroes.

In 1934 Arthur Rasmussen (later Vaag), a general practitioner in Vágur, gave a lecture in the Faroes Medical Association and
wrote an article in the Danish Medical Journal, »Ugeskrift for Læger«, on this unknown infection, which he called »primær
epidemisk alveolopneumoni«.

On the basis of Arthur Rasmussen's article, R.K. Rasmussen, a general practitioner in Eiði, embarked upon the collectíon
of the particulars of all the cases in the Faroes, which he then studied. In a lecture ín the Faroes Medícal Association
in 1936, he came to the conclusion that this infection was psittacosis (parrot fever), and that the young of the fulmar
(Fulmaris glacialis), which is caught in August — September every year, might be the source of infection.

In September 1937 it was established that patients at Dr. Alexandrines Hospital, who had died, had psittacosis. In 1938 the
psittacosis virus was found both in fulmar young and in Faroes patients who died in that year. Thus the mystery of the Faroese
epidemic was solved within a few years.