INFLUENZA.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16436, 1 February 1919, Page 8

INFLUENZA.

BLOCKADE RESENTED. (By Cable.—Pros# Association.—CopjtiglU.) (Australian and N.Z. Oablo MELBOURNE, Jiuratrr 31. Fresh influenza cases number 157. Si* deaths are reported. Victoria is protesting against the New South "Wales blockade, and is appealing to the Federal authorities. TOLL OF THE DISEASE. (Received January 81st, 9.35 p.m.) MELBOURNE, January 31. Eight more deaths and fir© new cases of influenza wero reported to-day. RACE MEETINGS PROHIBITED. (By Cabla.—Prese Aaiociation.—Copyright.! (Received January 31st, 9.35 p.m.) SYDNJSY, January 31. Sovcn influenza suspects were Bent to hospital to-day. All raco meetings have boon prohibited until further notice. GAINING IN ADELAIDE. ADELAIDE, January 31. Thirty new* influenza cases aro reported. The Health Officer has decided not to recommend inoculation, as there is no evidence to 6how that it is doing good, and there is reason to suspect that it may do harm. EPIDEMIC COMMISSION. ORDER OF REFERENCE. (press association telegram.) WELLINGTON, January 3*l. The order of reference of the Epidemic Commission was made available to-day. It Is as follows: — (1) Causes of the introduction and extension of the recent epidemic of influenza in New Zealand, (2) The best methods of preventing or dealing with such occurrences in future. (3) All matters connected with the arrival in New Zealand waters of tho Niagara and Makura, in respoct to their bearing on the intro- • r auction or extension of tho epidemic. (4) The administration of the Public Health Department and of local authorities with regard to their responsibilities in relation to the epidemic and generally in regard to public health. (5) The proper relation of local authorities to the Public Health Department in respect of the prevention or snpprossion of infectious diseases, and generally in regard to public health. (6) Tne efficiency of ihe quarantine arrangements in New Zealand. The Commission is to report not later than March 14th. EXPLANATION OF OFFICIAL FIGURES. (press association txlegbax.) WELLINGTON, January 31. A statement attributed to the Minister of Public Health in a telegram from Wellington, published yesterday, to the offect that a week or two ago he was alarmed at seeing there were 92 influenza notifications for the Auckland district, and that 89 of these were sent by tho same medical practitioner, is claimed to be particularly misleading. This is illustrated by examination of the returns oovering the number of . ccses of infectious diseases in Auckland Provincial District. Of the 92 notifications, 89 were cases which occurred at Onohunga during November. The notifications were not forwarded to the District Health Officer by the doctor in charge until about the second week in January. When the returns for the week enaed January 13th wore forwarded to the Public Hoalth Department in Wellington, the 89 cases were included in the number of notifications for that week, and an explanatory footnote was added to the effect that the 89 cases occurred in November, and were not fresh cases. Apparently the explanation was overlooked by the authorities in Wellington, and hv the Minister when making his public statement. wanganuTfiguhes. fFRZSS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) WANGANUI, January 31. The report by the Health Inspector shows that the total influenza eases for the borough to date number 197fi, and the deaths 72. The total cases for tho Wanganui hospital district were 3121, and the deaths 134, These figures do not represent the full extent of ttt outbreak, as the doctors only notified pneumonia cases, whilo the Taihape and Waimarino returns are not included.