Doctors Fear Influenza Epidemic

Chronicle (Levin), 7 December 1948, Page 5

Doctors Fear Influenza Epidemic

Received Tueftday, 12.34 a.m. LONDON, Dec. 6. Another epidemic of the ijifluenza scourge which has l)aff]ed doctors and scientists for 500 years, inay be imminent, according to medical authorities all over the world. The British Medical Assocfation believes this epidemic is "overdue. " A spokesman of the B.M.A. stated: "We expected the o*tbreak some months ago. It . usuallv begins with a small number of mild cases and doctors are pretty worried because they believe the recent spate of mild cases iu Britaiiipis a prelude to a storm. If the National Health ISerVices can survive sueh an outbrealv they will survive anything." Dr. Van Den Berg, Director of Public Health f'or the Duteh Cfovernment, forocast sueh an epideinie morfe than a year ago when he expressed tlie opinion that infiuenza pandeniics — epidemics on a workl-wide scale— were liaide to recur in cycles of -from 25 to 30 years and that the danger was aggravated by conditions caused by the prolonged war as was the ease aft'er the First World War. There a're, however, a number of doctors who disagree with the foreeast. One general practitioner with wide experience of London epidemics, described it as "nonsense. " A Ministrv of Health spokesman said so far this winter the total number of infiuenza cases reported was even lower than this time last year.