SOME PRECAUTIONS AGAINST ATTACK OF POLIOMYELITIS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 14, Issue 72, 5 December 1949, Page 4

SOME PRECAUTIONS AGAINST ATTACK OF POLIOMYELITIS

With the approach of the summer months again residents in the Bay of Plenty will be well advised to take sensible precautions against another outbreak of infantile paralysis. New Zealand has never really quite recovered from the last epidemic, which had its time in this part of the country too, and although it has been proved that the disease can break out at any time during the year it seems to be more dangerous during the summer months.

Mo Effective Control The attempts to control the spread of the disease in- the past have been singularly disappointing, and the apparent ineffectiveness of public health measures must be the result, at least partly, of there being perhaps several hundred cases of abortive infection for every one diagnosed as infantile paralysis, according to the British Medical Journal. A threat of poliomyelitis must clearly be an indication of the need for special attention to personal hygiene. Any child in any way unwell should be put to bed and isolated from others and a patient suspected of having an abortive infection should be kept in bed for a week.

Food is often handled so carelessly that the avoidance of infection seems impossible. Since little can be done to avoid the virus, the question arises whether any steps can be 1 taken to reduce the risk of infection developing into the paralytic form.

In the first place, there seems to be little chance of keeping the virus outside the central nervous system, tor it is found in the brain even in the abortive cases.

Avoid Fatigus The journal suggests that fatigue may possibly operate in converting an abortive case to a paralytic case. Over-careful advice to make all children rest during an epidemic seems undesirable, but the thoughtful parent can do much to avoid over fatigue during the holiday season.

Dietary indiscretions such as overeating fruit or unnecessary purging may be harmful, the journal says and there are theoretical reasons for avoiding fatigue for several days after injury, minor illness, sunburn, or surgical operations.