INFLUENZA

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 22, 21 October 1918, Page 6

INFLUENZA

THE EPIDEMIC ABATING

STATEMENT BY MINISTER OF HEALTH 1 .

Referring yesterday to the influenza epidemic, the lion. G. W. ltussell said: "Late last night I received a report from the health Officer, Auckland, ivith regard to the condition of the influenza patients landed from and still on tffe vessel which brought the Prime Minister and Sir Joseph Ward lack to the Dominion. The report states:— 'Present position at Auckland Hospital is ten patients were discharged 'today (Saturday), leaving fifteen of the original patients there, of whom three are serious and one very serious. On the vessel 23 remained in the hospital. All progressing splendidly. There have been only two new cases since Wednesday last. Cargo is being discharged, but the sailing of the ship, is being delayed for the want of a. crew.' My attention (added the Minister) has been directed to the fact that tho. Australian authorities propose to quarantine all vessels arriving and having influenza on board. I do not know what tho position is in Australia, but in New Zealand influenza is not a notifi-' able disease, and it would bo an illogical position to take up that a vessel arriving here with influenza on board should be quarantined while that ailment or disease is so prevalent throughout the Dominion and is not made notifiable. The question of whether influenza should be declared a disease rendering vessols having it 011 board subject to quarantine, will require careful consideration. When the epidemic' in South Africa assumed so virulent a form, the Public Health Department at once cabled to tho health authorities of South Africa, asking for a statement (1) as to the results of a bacteriological examination of the disease, and (2) as to the methods employed in its treatment. Up to the present this report has not been received. ' The Department is in close touch with the health authorities at all centres whence infection may travel to New Zealand, and in soliciting this\information from the Cape authorities., the ordinary procedure was carried out. As soon as the statement is re-' ccivcd from Cape Tqwn the matter will be carefully considered. In the meantime the reports to hand show that tlie epidemic in New Zealand is abating somewhat irf intensity, and it is ynost satisfactory to know that up to (late there have been very few deaths indeed that can be directly attributed to influenza." ANOTHER DEATH. A second death among , tho crew of the Niagara occurred yesterday, says a Press Association telegram from Auckland. Owen Quimi, aged 23, a fireman, whose home is in Liverpool, died from lung complications following influenza. '