INFECTIOUS DISEASES

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 53, 26 November 1919, Page 6

INFECTIOUS DISEASES

POSITION IN WELLINGTON

INFLUENZA SHOWS AN INCREASE

PRECAUTIONS SHOULD BE

TAKEN

Tho number of cases of infectious disease reported in tho Wellington Publio Health District for tho week ended November 21 was 135, an increase of 28 compared with tho previous week. This is accounted for principally by an inoreaso of 31 in the number of influenza notifications.

Following i are details of the various cases reported, tho. figures for tho provious week being given as.well:—

This L«Bt Week Week Scarlet fever 2 8- ■ /.I'uborculosis 11 3 'Enterio fever i i Puerperal fover v 1 0 Influenza 62 31 Pneumonia 21 215 Measles 8 G ' Trachoma ' 1 0 Diphtheria 25 32 lii the previous week a caso of lethargic encephalitis and a case of septicaemia were also reported/ The hospital districts from which the latest cases have been notified aro as follow: Waiapu: Enteric. 1. Wairoa: Tuberculosis, 1; pneumonia, 1. Hawke's Bay: Diphtheria, .3; influenza, 6; pneumonia, 1: measles, 2; trachoma, 1. Waipawa: Influenza, 1; pneumonia, 1. Taranaki: Scarlet fevor, 1; diphtheria, 2; enterio fever, 1; pneumonia,'l. Stratford: DiphtheTia, l 3; influenza, i. Hawera: Scarlet fever, lj turberoulosis, 1; influenza, 8; pneumonia, 1. Patea: Enteric fever, 1; tuberculosis, 2; influenza, 2. Wangamii: Diphtheria, 2; tuberculosis, 2j influenza, 5; pneumonia, 1; measles, 5. Palmerston North: Diphtheria, 7; tuberculosis, 1; puerperal fever, 1; influenza, 1; pnoumonia, G. Weilington: Diphtheria, 0; onterie fever, 1; tuberculosis, 1; influenza, 19_; pneumonia, 7. Wairarapa: Tuberculosis, 3; influenza, 14 j pneumonia, 2. Wn,irau; Diphtheria, lj influenza, 2. Nelson: Diph- \ them, 1. Total, 135. Of the 02 cases of influenza reported, six were of tho pneumonic type. For the' week ending November'l7 three, pneumonic cases eanio under the notice of the Department. The details regarding influenza are as follow. Napier, fl mild; Dannevirke, 1 pneumonic: Stratford. 1 mild; Kaponga, i mjld; Eltham, i mild: Patea, 2 mild; Marlon, 3 mild; Bulls, 2 mild; Levin, 1 pneumonic; Wei,lington city, 9 mild, 1 pneumonic; Potone, i mild, 1 pneumonic; Lower Hull, 1 severe, 1 mild; Johnsrinville, 2 mild; Pahiatua, 1 1 mild, 1 pneumonic; Masterton, 9 mild. 1 pneumonic; Eketahuua 2' mild; Havelock, 2 mild. Total, 62. Discussing tho influenza position with a Dominiok reporter yesterday, tho District Health Officer (Dr. M. H. Watt) stated that tho increase in the number of influenza cases was no doubt attributable to the changeable weather that had been experienced during the last two or three weeks. In this connection Dr. Watt threw out a warning that penplo should not discard their winter clothing too soon because there was risk of contracting a chill owing to sudden changes in the temperature. The rhiblic would be well' advised, ho said, to dress according to the climato and not to the season of tho year,.

"Out of the G2 cases of influenza r<v ported," remarked Dr. Watt, "only six nro pneumonic, nnd tho (12 cases are pretty evenly distributed over tlie whole \>f the Wellington Public Health • District. There is nothing to indicate the presence of an epidemic in any place. A total of 62 cases in a health district where the population numbers 400,000 is nothing alarming b,t all.; The typo of disease that wo are getting at present is, generally speaking, very mild, and i only a small proportion of the cases are pneumonic in nature. During the whole of tho winter months there have been very few cases of pneumonia,. • and, thoujh there has been an occasional death right through, there has been no increase in the fatalities. Of course, with a disease like influenza, precautions must be taken bv the public. The Health Department is circulating a picture called 'Dr. Wise and Influenza,' and it is being oxhibited in Wellington at the present time. This picture simply shown what precautions should lie taken, both to prevent the onset of tho disease and to guard against its spread. Tho Department is keeping a close watch oa the position, and the strictest precaution is being taken in every case that I comes under its notice."