More Paralysis Precautions Announced

Chronicle (Levin), 10 December 1947, Page 4

More Paralysis Precautions Announced

Two suspected cases of in- - fantile^ paralysis, the first in the, Horowhenua clistrict;, noiified to. the acting District^ Medical Officer of Health in j/almerston North', Dr. J. P. Kennedy, yesterday, said the health mspector, Mr. W. J. Guinan, today. ^ One was a boy from Levin, • who was admitted to the Palr merston North Hospital last » evening. The other, who was a young woman from Otaki, has since been eliminated as a suspect. It was obvious from the numerous inquiries which parents had. made of him, commented Mr. Guinan, that a considerable number did not realise that gatherings of children under 16 years of age, whether outdoor or indoor, were. prohibited. This meant all gatherings, he said, and there were no exceptions. He pointed out that direct or indirect breaches of this prohibition could on conviction result in a fine of £50 and if the offence continued £50 for every day it was allowed to do so. Mr. Guinan said that with the spread of paralysis to the southern portion of the North Island, it was in the best interests of children for parents to ensure that the prohibition was observed, and that all unnecessary fresh contacts were a.vnided.

Additional Precautions As a further precaution against the spread of infantile paralysis all public swimming baths, in Wellington and the Hutt Valley were closed entirely from this morning until further notice. Instructions to this effect were issued last night by the District Medical Officer of Health, in Wellington, Dr. Hubert Smith. Children, said Dr. Smith, had been excluded first from attending public gatherings but since a number of contacts had been young adults, it was felt the extension of control measures to the higher age group would appear to be warranted. The closing of swimming baths was an instance of this. Dr. Smith also recommended that dances should not be held for at these, he said, there was close contact between people. Christmas parties and social gatherings for children, he considered, should be reserved for family parties so as to avoid bringing different groups of people into unnecessary contact.