INFLUENZA

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 110, 3 February 1920, Page 8

INFLUENZA

INCREASE IN WELLINGTON WEEKLY BULLETIN : . —•, ■' The. , weekly bulletin issued by the District Health Office discloses ft 'very considerable increase in tho number of influenza cases since tho last bulletin. Although tho vast majority of the cases notified are of, tho'mild form, it is signi- , ficanl that thfe cases of the pneumonic type.have increased from- threo 1 in the previous week (o 22, and tho cnses from. 8 to 10. The total number ■ of influenza cases for the Wellington, district, /which is,.'a' ve^> widespread cn§, embracing part ,of the South Island, is 603, compared with 173 for the previous ■week. Tho largest number of oases are re-; ported from the Wellington and Nelson district?. In the case of Wellington district, the cases of a 1 mild type ,rf 'influenza have increased during the week from 112 to 218, 1 and the pneumonic cases from S to 12, and threo other cases are described as serious. ,'flie Nelson figures ehow increaso in mild cases, from 3!l to 1,55. This would appciir somewhat nlarming were it not for the fact that tho Health Department explains that the majority of these notifications are delayed notifications, referring to previous' periods. ■ Tho Wanganui and Palmerston North figures also reflect the cprynd, of mild influenza over the -\vholo district, but the , Health 'Department states that so far there is-notliing in the situation to (rivo riso to any serious alarm. _ Tho Department is watching the position carefully, and everything is well in hand as provision against any alarming outbreak, Awpended are the figures in detail:— Waipawa: 7, all mild. ' i Taranaki: 3, all pneumonic., Stratford: 3, tiro mild and one pneumonic. . Haworaji 5, nil mild. Patea.: 1, mild. Wanganui: 30, 20 mild and one pneumonic. ' , „ Palmeiston North: 12, 10 mild and 2 severe. Wellington: 248, including 12..peusnonid and 3 severe cnses. Wainrrapa: 2<i. 25 mild and one sevefe. Wairau; 3; all mild. Nelson: 155, 148 mild, 5 pneumonic, and 2 revere. ' . Ten cases of pneumonia are also reported for the M distributed as follow:—Patea 1, Wanganui 1, Morton 1, . Wellington no need for Alarm , AN OFFICIAL STATEMENT. ' Yesterday tho M&vor of Wellington (Mr. J. P.' Luke, M.fJ.sent the following telegram to the' Minister for Internal Affairs:—"l shall*be glad to have your assurance, after you linve consulted v.ith vour officers of the Public Health lepartraent, that there is no anxiety'as to the health of the community bang jeopardised by the people congregating inlarge; numbers in places of entertainment." Jlr. Luke has received the following reply to his telegram.—• , _ "In reply to your request,; i am glad to be able to assure you that the officers of tho Public Health Department advise me that the present influenza is of a mild form, and that there is no 'immediate reason to anticipate an outbreak of virulent influenza. They also me that the closing of theatres or prevention of public gatherings would not , "be Justified by any knowledge 'or in- ' formation we have here." The closing of schools' was to prevent the spread of the mild form nmonjr tho The •position ia being carefully. watched.- You roav rest assured that fill the powers vested in mvself and tho of the Department. will i>o exercised if it'is found necessary. At present there is reallv iio causs for alarm." DUNEDIN CASES most of them mild. By Telegraph—Press Association.. ; Dunedin, February 2. Of seventy influenza cases reported to the District Health "Officer,"fifty are at Port 'Chalmers, affecting cighteon famiThe'f'Educatiqn Board chairman's recommendation ' that the should remain closed till filrther nokjee, has been accepted throughout the district. Dr. Trengley, .who lias temporarily taken over control of locn) health owing, to tho temporary absence- of the ' District •Officer, declares that the cases of influenza tire of definite type,' but generally mild. There is no reason for a scare. It fa advised that children "of school age should bo excluded from picture'theatres. , . ' ! , PREVALENT IN MASTERTON. , By Toleßraph.-Special Correspondent. > Masterton, February' 2. ! Cases of mild influenza «ro prevalent 'jn .tlie Masterton district. Several frfsh ;ases have been, admitted to the hospital, "including one or two suffering from the pneumonic form of the disease. Ihe staffs of some of the business places have already been depleted. *■ ■ INFLUENZA ON BBEMEN. . (Bee. February 2, 9.30 p.m.) Sydney, February 2i The steamer Bremen has arrived ,from Wellington with five, eases of 4 influenza aboard. ' The vessel has been .quarantined.—Press Assn. V . V CASES IN AMERICA. "; ' 1 (Eec. February 3/0.45 a.m.) New- Yvk, February I.' Influenza cast- 'reported since January total 38,887, and tho deaths have 'numbered 772.—Aus-N.Z. Cable Assn.