INFLUENZA EPIDEMIC

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 36, 6 November 1918, Page 6

INFLUENZA EPIDEMIC

RAPID SPREAD OF DISEASE RAILWAY STAFFS AFFECTED CURTAILMENT OF SERVICES .PROBABLE SIXTEEN DEATHS IN AUCKLAND "In view of the serious effect that the influenza epidemic has had, and is having, upon the Railway Department staff. iii all probability it will ho necessary to materially curtail both the goods and passenger services in the North Island," a railway official stated yesterday. It wns gathered that the Department is a,t present obtaining particulars from the several railway districts as to the exact number., of members cf the running etaif (locomotive drivers, guards, shunters, etc.) who are incapacitated through the epidemic in order to ascertain to what extent the service will have to be curtailed. When these details are available, the 'curtailment will be decided upon by the railway management to meet the extraordinary, renditions, aiid full particulars will be furnished the public in order to warn intending passengers and consignors of goods. "The epidemic is rampaut among the railway staffs at Auckland nnd Ohnkune," stated the official, "and over three hundred members of the running staff alone are laid aside with influenza jit the present time. This fact is having a very serious effect on the efficient running of the present passenger and >,oodi services, and a curtailment is absolutely necessary. Precautionary measures to protect railway passengers fronf infection have not been lost sight of, and the management have been in communication with the Public Health Department en the subject. The Railway Department Las expressed a deaire that precautionary measures should be brought into operation in each of the principal centres, and the local officers in the several railway districts have been instructed to get in touch with the district health officers and act under their instructions in regard to the use of disinfectants, etc.

"If the Health Department expresses the wish to instal inhalation chambers, the Railway Department will ibe pleased to co-operate, and is prepared to place suitable rooms at tbe disposal of the Health Department on railway stations,! for this purpose, ami assist in seeing that passengers are passed through the rooms. In the meantime the Railway Department has undertaken the work of spraying the passenger coaches with a disinfectant supplied by and on the principle submitted by the Public Health Department."

It is understood that the Railway Department will be in possession of s.ll thk facts relating to the number of members of the running staff who are affected by tbe influenza epidemic ,to-clay, and an announcement will 'le made at once, regarding the extent of the curtailment of the services 'that hare been decided upon.

GRAVE POSITION IN AUCKLAND SIXTEEN MORE DEATHS REPORTED iJy Telegraph— Vvbsa Association Auckland, November 5. There have been at least.6iiteen more deaths from influenza. Sixly-fivo hospital nurses are down with the complaint, filling two wards, and 40 eplcliore in an annexe are affected.. There were 615 applications to-day for mqdical assistance, and 30 serious cases were admitted to the hospital. Tho extremely serious nature of the influenza epidemic has been impressed upon the Minister of Public Health so forcibly that instead of returning to Wellington to-night he decided to remain here until all arrangements for fighting the disease are in hand, . '■ : In-reply to an interviewer, the Minister said: '"'ln view of the--verv eerious nature of the position I have communicated with the Prime Minister and the Minister of Defence, urging tho 'Provision of an increase to the fullest extent of medical men. Beyond the ten already sent and promised, three doctors arrived with Dr. Frengley, Chief Health Officer, two others were released in Auckland by the Dofence Department, and now tho examination of recruits in the North Island has been stopped, releasing four more. lam seeking the assistance of further doctors, in addition to theso ten, so that people may receive treatment in their own homes in the early stages of the disease, and thus lessen the demands upon the hospital for accommodation after the disease has developed to a serious stage. The Minister of Defence has also been reauested to release nil chemists in camp, and every effort is being made to obtain nurses from other parts oi (no JTorfii Islaud." Tho Minister appeals for more women to help the fighting forces, also people with motor-cars to carry food from the Women's National Reservo Rooms to families in distress. Referring to other steps taken. Mr. Russell said that they could not all be disclosed until they had the approval of the authorities m Wellington. Tho Chief Health Officer, the district health officer, and himself, however, were unanimous as to the gravity of the position. ■ i message from Auckland states that two police sergeants and thirty-five constables ' h'ave been stricken down with influenza. SITUATION I~WELLINGTON TROUBLE ON THE IRIS. The Pacific Cable Company's steamer Iris, which is visiting Wellington . in order to effect repairs to ono of tlw Cook Strait* cables, has evidently brought the trouble along with her. No fewer than thirty-nine of the ship's company have developed influenza within the last three days, and the vessel, as she lies at the quay, nas keen isolated. Two'of the sufferers have been transferal to the hospital, both suffering from pneumonia in on acute form. The other cases are all being'treated on board, and a staff of nur6es.are in attendance upon them. ■

NOT SO BAD ASHORE. ] An inquiry was made yesterday as to whether influenza had made itself mani- • fest among tho departmental staffs in [ Wellington. The result of tho inquiry [ was that whilst there had been, a good , deal of influenza, and there were still '• many cases, none of tho departments i had been anything like crippled, and tho form did not appear to be a very severe one. There were only five or six nirny telegraph staff on sick leave yesterday, so up till the present the cf- • feet of the scourge has been light. 1 OUTBREAK AT PALMERSTON : ' NORTH. There is an epidemic of influenza nt Palnierston North. The number of patients ie steadily increasing. In addition to the large number of sufferers in Awapuiii Camp, lfcvny persons employed in business establishments in the town aro affected. Tho disease is ovidently of a virulent type. CASES IN GISBORNE INCREASING. Ily Telegraph—Press Association. Gisborne, November 5. The number of influenza cases is increasing daily. The hospital is crowded, there being sixty-one cases in tho institution to-day. Sixteen nurses out of a stuff of thirty-four aro down with influenza. As a result of an appeal of tho hospital authorities, several ladies volunteered their assistance in the nursing in the institution. The Borough Council has decided to disinfect the tramcara three times a day, and Int.; asked the school committees Iα consider the ndvisnbleness of closing tho schools. It also urges parents to prohibit their children from going to picture shows. Since Sunday there .hnve been two deaths in tho hospital from double pneumonia supervening on infiueuza. DISEASE BECOMING PREVALEN? IN WESTPORT. t Westport, November 5. The troubli in regard to tho_ Kaituna is still unsettled. Tho watersiders remain obdurate, and have resolved not to

go ncnr the bout unless the company, guarantees them against contagion vitis influenza. The crew of Die Eteamer wlia are not down •with, influenza aro intuit mingling with the community as if notinny liiitl occurred. Influenza is becoinv ing prevalent among the citizens,

DOCTOES FROM CAMP, The Minister of Defence infornied a Dominion reporter yesterday that he had clone his best tu meet the appeal made by Auckland for additional doctors to cope with the outbreak of influenza. Hβ had already sent.ten doctors to Auckland, and three more were to go. Some stow had been taker, also to give leave to dfapensers at .present in the camps. The Minister added that ho did not,.' think any more doctors could be spared. There was influenza in the camps, and the medical staffs must be kept at proper strength, , AUCKLAND POST OFFICE STAFF f . ATTACKED OVER A HUNDRED CASES. The head office of the General Post Office has been advised that the influenza " epidemic has made a general attack on the staff of the Auckland office, which at present is 6erious!y handicapped by the number of those unable to attend to their duties. On Saturday last thero were eighty-four of the staff of the post office branch laid aside bv the ailment, and thirty-four of the telegraph operators, in all 118. In the circnnietancee the work which fell 'oil the rest of the staff was particularly heavy, but they \- stuck to. their work in good style, aud worried through what was undoubtedly a crieie.

There was one death recorded, that of , Mr. H. G. M'Leod, registration clerk in the post office, and formerly of Wellington. '

DEPARTURE OF MANUKA POSTPONED PASSENGERS TO BE TREATED IN INHALATION CHAMBERS." ' ■ The departure of the steamer Manuka from Wellington for Sydney has been, postponed until 11 p.m. on Friday. Intending paesnngers are notified that in. order to avoid quarantine on arrival in Australia they must go through the inhalation chanjber at A shed, Queen's Wharf,, Wellington, three times, and obtain a certificate from a health officer that they .have done so. No passenger will be allowed to embark ifnless in possession of this certificate. The. process can be gone through at Duriedin, Lyttelton, and Auckland. On this occasion. Wellington passengers must pass through' the chamber once each on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday of this week. Passengers from north and south joining at Wellington must pass through the chamber twice on Thursday and once on Friday. Application must be made to the Union Company's office for fuller particulars.

EFFECT ON SHIPPING DEATH OF. CAPTAIN DREWBTTB. The influenza epidemic has as yet not affected the movements of local shipping to any great extent. Quite a number of vessels are reported to be entirely free of it, but isolated cases are numerous. '■■ The disease is making itself felt on the Monowai, for yesterday seven of the crew were admitted to hospital and others -on the ship are still 'suffering elightly. Last night it was reported Hint two of the few passengers remaining on the steamer were lnid up. The Hospital authorities stated last night , 'that there were then.. eeVcntecn influenza patients in the institution, and most of them were from ships. The small steamer Kahu. and the Monowai are the only boats on which the disease is severe. 1 Five of the officers and crew of the first-named ship are in the Hospital. The work of unloading the cargoes of the Monowai, Palpona, and ,Kahu was not proceeded with yesterday. It is understood, thnt the Disputes Committee held I a meeting yesterday to discuss the deadi lock that ias arisen. The reejilt of the meeting was, however, withheld. • The death occurred last night V Captain Drewette, master of the Union Company's steamer Monowai, one of, the affected ships. Captain Drewette went into a private hospital on Sunday morning, after the arrival of his ship from Auckland, suffering from pneumonia fallowing on influenza, and was then in a serious condition. Captain Drewette ■ leaves, a wife and a daughter. He was highly esteemed by both the officers and men who were under his command. .

\THE NIAGARA OUTBREAK STATEMENT BY MINISTER OF HEALTH. By Telegraph—Press Association Auckland, November 5. The Hon. G. W. Russell, nt a meeting of the Citizens' Epidemic Conmrittoe, stated that when the Niagara arrived he wived to the local authoritiea for information, and was informed that one death had occurred from bronohial pneumonia after influenza. That out* break was purely influenza, and one or two passengers for New Zealand had it. He therefore telegraphed out that the ship might be cleared. The medical authorities had agreed that the epidemio was nothing but pure influenza, and so far Australia had not declared New Zealand infected.