INFLUENZA.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18893, 7 January 1927, Page 8

INFLUENZA.

EUROPEAN OUTBREAK

MAY AFFECT NEW ZEALAND

• The influenza is at any time a fenous disease, particularly amongst the voung and old," said Dr. T. Fletcher Telford, Medical Officer for Health, when questioned by a P*»s reporter regarding the European epidemic. "Generally speaking, the e pi dera.c reaches New Zealand through shipping, about two or three months after it commences in Europe, but to reach -an estimate of its seriousness at present, as reported in the cables, the number of death* must be read in comparison with the total population of the affected areas. "There are several factors that mu*t be considered in regard to the virulence of the epidemic in Europe. Ho<ising there is more congested than in New Zealand, and conditions of living poorer, with extremes of poverty existing. All this tends to a more virulent form of the disease, as does the rigorous Continental winter. The message shows, for example, that iu Spain, where the climate is equitable, the outbreak has taken a mild form, but in parts of Germany, and in Bararia, where an extremely cold winter is experienced, the epidemic is at its worst.

"It is too soon,"' said Dr. Telford, "for the general public to take precautions, but the Health Department is keeping an eye steadily on advisory reports from outside countries."