INFLUENZA EPIDEMIC

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 127, 22 February 1919, Page 7

INFLUENZA EPIDEMIC

FEELING OF THE B.M.A. THAT "NIAGARA BROUGHT THE DISEASE" By Tclecraph—Press Association. Auckland, Eobruary 21. At the Epidemic Commission, Dr. Milson, representing the Auckland division of tlio British Medical Association, said they wero of opinion that the epidemic was an outbreak of tlio pandemic disease hitherto known to the profession an influenza, and identical with the disease in older countries; and that the infection was brought to Now Zealand by. more than ouo oversea pusseuger steamer; including, possibly, vessels returning from England with troops, including the earlier part of- a draft from No. 2 Genial Hospital. Tho feeling of the profession in Auckland was that the Niagara brought the disease. This, however, was not capable of proof, and it was possiblo other vessels were also responsible. Eeferring to the City Council's comments on the scope of the Epidemic Commission, Sir John Dcnniston, chairman, said that the Commission had been so far engaged entirely with the investigation of the facts connected with clauses 1 and 3of the order of reference. Slattors of sanitation, slums, and such liko would bo gone into later. The Commission had already intimated that it invited tho fullest information relevant to ajiy of the objects of reference. Previous to the middle of October, as a body of practitioners, they had practically seen no cases of real influenza in Auckland, added Dr. Milsou. It was tritfe that there wero cases of pneumonia and broncho pneumonia in* existence, but influenza bacillus was not found in sputum subsequently to tho middle of October. They did not think that the landing, of cases from the Niagara was the solo possible source of infection; yet tliejr felt that' the landing of such cases of illness and their carriage in open motor-cars and stretchers through the streets - was unwiso and would be a means of spreading infection. They knew that there, had always been in New Zealand an endemic condition, probably not a disease entity, which had received tho label—they thought wrongly—of "influenza." The great majority of the pro-fession-in Auckland said that until tho middle of .October, 1918, they had-not-seen tlio severe pandemic clinical type of disease that then occurred, although as a profession they agreed that they knew of no effective menus of preventing an invasion of this disease from overseas unless it be by total prohibition of nil oversea intercourse until the epidemic had disappeared from tho world. Yet, stringent quarantine regulations and isolation of infected cases, would certainly tend to diminish the risk of infection to 'the rest' of the population. Since they thought the pandemic was bound to bo introduced Booner or Inter, they thought it fortunate that it came in the luto spring when the weather was getting warmer, rather than' in the lilt© autumn. Witness held that' iimoculation against disease had a doubtful value because it had not been definitely proved; Organisation iii Auckland had been good, and was regarded by members of' the association as a very satisfactory one. As a profession they "thought the wearing of masks would be useless, and when placed on a patient at a time when they were most useful they tended to interfere with the respiration of the patient. One thing that was needed .was open spaces, good houses, and reasonable wages, so that ]>eoplo could live under proper conditions. Members of the association wero of the opinion that no jjrecaution would have prevented the introduction of the disease fo tho Dominion, aSi sooner or later it would have broken quarantine. The association had instructed him to state that they were' prepared to offer the commission any assistance in their power. Dr. Eossiter'said the Auckland branch of the British Medical Association had passed a resolution to tho effect that they considered it very unfortunate that in such highly technical matters no member of tho medical profession was given nn opportunity of sitting on the com--'mission, so that :the real value of the medical evidence bearing upon the origin, cause, and treatment of tho epidemic might be properly, assessed. ; The 'chairman" 6aid that this" was a criticism on the personnel of tho commission, and could not bo accepted. Continuing. Dr. Eos-siter said that it was quite possiblo that some of the men on the lonic and the Paparoa, which arrived at tho saui9 time as the Niagara, were carriers of the disease, and that so some extent those may have been responsiblefor, tho spread of the dise'ase. He sup-ported-the evidence given by Dr. Milsou and. Dr. Makgill, A.D.M.

A Sanitary Department ofliccr gave evideiico' relating to the disease in the military, camps. THE POSITION IN BRITAIN A REASSURING STATEMENT. - .Alarmirtg reports regarding the recrudescence of influenza in Great Britain are discredited in a. cablegram received bv 'Jhe Acting-Prime Minister from -the. High Commissioner, on tho authority of the Local Government Board. The cablegram ' indicates, that, the present' epidemic is not nearly so serious as the original outbreak. The aggregate' number of deaths in 9G great towns during (ho week ended February IS was GOl, and the total in the preceding week was 272. In'th'e'height' oF'the autumn epidemic the total of deaths went to 75G0 in a week.