PUBLIC HEALTH

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 100, 21 January 1918, Page 4

PUBLIC HEALTH

______ ______ INFECTIOUS DISEASES. An interesting statement regarding oases of infectious diseases in the Do* minion during the weeks ended January 7 and 14 was made by the Hon. G. W. Russell. The figures, said Mr. Russell, indicated that things were practically normal. For thu first wees of the now year there were thirty-five cases of scarlet fever in the whole Dominion, and in the second week thirty-one. There was still a small number of scarlet fever cases in the North Canterbury district, and the Minister noted during ,last week there wore seven cases in the Ashburton district—tho first recorded from, that district for several weeks.

Diphtheria was and had been for some time past the most prevalent infectious disease in the Dominion, and during the first week' of this month seven ty-soven cases were recorded and niiiety-eix in the second week. Tho epidemic was general, but there were not many cases in the Wellington district : it appeared to be most prevalent in North Canterbury and Southland. It had been raging in Southland for tome time past, and had caused a good deal of anxiety to the Public Health Department and to the Hospital Board. Extra steps had been taken <o cope with it. At the same time, Mr. Russell added, it was only fair to state in respect of the epidemio in Southland, that the scientific authorities wero not quite satisfied that the disesso was diphtheria. Bacteriological inquiries in somo cases gave negative results to that of diphtherial though the persons affected wero apparently suffering from diphtheria.