Disease Attacks Only Men And Monkeys: Research Limited

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 12, Issue 4, 5 December 1947, Page 5

Disease Attacks Only Men And Monkeys: Research Limited

“Less is known about poliomyelitis than about some other virus diseases,” said Dr T. R. Ritchie, Di-rector-General of Health, in a statement at Wellington. “This is partly due to the fact that no small animals readily available for research, such as rabbits, rats or mice, are susceptible to it. In some virus diseases it is possible to inoculate the embryo of an egg with a virus and study its development in the thick. Not in this case, however. The only creature besides man known to be subject to poliomyelitis is the monkey and research is being keenly prosecuted in America on these lines.

“As a consequence of the absence of ready research material it cannot yet be said that the disease can be stopped or prevented from spreading, but by precautions taken the disease is, as it were, slowed down and the outbreak does not reach the proportions it otherwise would. “Owing to the fact that many children and adults become slightly infected during mild outbreaks, a large portion of the population become salted against any further symptoms of the disease,” said Dr Ritchie. “The fact that many Such people, with no apparent symptoms, are moving about New Zealand renders the spread of the virus inevitable. Children are more susceptible than adults in that they have not had the inoculating effect of prior infection.

“The spread of infection offers puzzling features. For instance, only one in a family may reveal infection. The need for . avoiding contacts among children, however, is imperative.”