INFLUENZA

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 112, 5 February 1920, Page 6

INFLUENZA

DEPARTMENTAL STATEMENT

A REASSURING OUTLOOK

NO DRASTIC RESTRICTIONS AS YET

Had the conditions arisen two years ago verv little Jiotico would have been taken "of it. Tho figures would not have been published, and most people would scarcely have been aware of tho visitation. However, the experience of 1918 showed us what a treacherous disease influenza is, and that we cannot ignore .it even in its present form. Thereior?, we are ready for it.

In theso words tho Acting-Chief Health Officer (Or. K. h. Makgill), 0 in a statement handed :to the Press yesterday, summarised the present position of tne epidemic in a mild l-irni which is at present prevalent throughout tho greater part of tho Dominion. Dr. Makgill .went on to state as follows :

"The return of influenza notifications throughout tho Dominion for the week ended February 2shows that there has been a considerable increase over the preceding weeks. For the week ended January 12 there were 133 cases reported in New Zealand; for the week ended January 19, 273 cases; for the week ended January 2G, 352 cases; and for tho week ended February 2, 792 cases. . However, it is satisfactory to find that the proportion of pneumonic or otherwise severe cases has not increased. It may be mentioned that tho cases of plain pneumonia notified in the weeks under review were 4<i, 27, 33, and 24 respectively, which is a pretty fair indication of tho tendency at" present for, pulmonary infection of that kind. So long rs 'the complicated cases and cases of the out-and-out pneumonic type keep low! liko this thero is no cause for apprehension. Deaths to Date. "People, no doubt, are anxious as to the number of deaths that have occurred. Following are details from influenza and pneumonia for tho past two months:— From From in- pneuW.eek ended- ' iluenza. monia, December 8 ; 5 1

December 15 2 7 December 22 4 0 December 29 v 5 0 January 5 0 2 January 12 1 0 January 19 3 0 January 26 4 1 It will be seen that the deaths were less in the month just closed than in the preceding month."

Dr. Ma.kgill continued that "the heaviest incidence during the past week has been in Wellington, where 240 oases wero reported, and in Nelson, where there wero 155, cases. This latter figure, however, includes somo cases from the previous week. In Christohurch and Otago districts the figures were 43 ;'nd 72 respectively. This shows a considerable . increase in Otago as compared with the 11 and 7 cases for the hvo previous weeks. The Auckland total for the past week was IS6. The influence of tho warm weather fortunately is assisting to keep down the pulmonary complications."

"\\'c do not consider," lie continued, "the position serious enough to warrant ns closing down the picture theatres. If we did that we conhl not logically allow other public gatherings such cccur at auction sales, race meetings, churches, and in hotel bars. If lie p&sMon fehould warrant such action in the futuro wo shall certainly take it, but such a step is not needed at present. We think, however, that for their own wkes, as well as the sakes of the children, places of- amusement would be wise to exclude children under fifteen years of age. Jf they do not do it themselves, it may happen that we shall have to do it compulsorily, and if it is done by is et all it will apply to the public generally, and not only to children. Meanwhile, children who are at the seaside should be kept there, and generally they should "De kept out of the towns as far as possible.

Masks Not Recommended. "Persons who are nervous rbout infection should avoid crowded places, such as trams, trains, and theatres. We do not intend, however, even f-hould the disease become more severe, to adopt tho mask, which was of very dubious value. Nor is there any intention, even should conditions become worse, to ;c----sr.nio the use of public inhalation chambers. These chambers are cnly d value where they can be thoroughly controlled. /If they create crowding, or are used irregularly, they are of no lise whatever. It. is possible, though, to use them with good effect in institutions where p:"Sons can bo sent under treatment in (-mail groups regularly, and can bo sure of treatment twice daily. Otherwise it is best to leave the inhalation chamber alone. A much better protection, and one available to everyone, is to wash out the nose and throat twice daily with warm salt solution, about a toaspoonful of snlt to a pint of 'farm water. Also to sniff some mentholated vaseline after using the other solution is a sound j rotation. Vaccination has produced somewhat contradictory .results and opinions. The experience in the. army seems to > five been that it did not reduce tl'ic . wmlier of infections, but that it did reduce tho tendenov to develop complications. Our present tyne of infection is fairly free from complications if reasonable precautions are taken by the patient, so Hint we do not advocate a genir.il vaccination, the more so as the effect of it docs not last long. We cons : der that it is better to await tho. chance that in the colder months to come, a more severe type of infection may develop. However, we are distributing vaccine to hospital boards, so that any medical practitioner may secure free a supply, nnd administer it to those of his patients who

wish it. Watcrsiders and Sailors. "In the case of waterside workers and sailors, who are more likely to oe exposed to severe infection, we think that 'vaccination should be adopted now, and bo are arranging for the opening at the main centres of clinic?, at v.hi.-h nny watersider or sailor may receive freo treatment. "Tnfliicnza is a disease the fjircad of which is beyond departmental effort. Its spread is so rapid and insidious that it is universally agreed by authorities that I there are no measures which 'nil prevent its spread throughout n country once it starts. The most effective measures rest chioflv with the public, themselves. They can, by the uee of a little common *ense, minimise both the spread of infeet'on and the severity of ilia dise.ise if they are attacked. One of the T isest stens to take is to avoid unnecessary crowds, and' to ensure adequate veiiHla-.ion and cleanliness, in all homes. If nny person •'s infeetrd, he should im'iiediately "o to bed. for in this way lie not only > minimises his own risk of ('evelopin^. pneumonic nnd other complications, W: j also does away v'ith Hie '''ingei' of being the means of infcct'iig others."

THE SCHOOLS

CLOSED UNTIL FURTIIRK NOTICE,

Schools, both private and public, pre to remain closed until fiirth"! - iklviftl by (he Health Department. They will certainly not reopen on Monday, but. in any case, the Department authorities will [rive ample notice of flip date upon ivlr'cli they consider it advisable lo allow the schools to commence their new terms.

MASTERTON CASES MILD, BUT VERY INFECTIOUS. ! Itv Telcstrap'i ■•- ST -»--l 0-"""">i-K , <>n' Masterton, February i. Fresh cases of influenza continue to occur in the Masterton district, but according to the district health inspector (Mr. J. Cairns) tho worst of the outbreak is past. Pneumonic cases aro rare, but the authorities are fully prepared with ample supplies of disinfectants, etc., in case of emergency. A house-to-houso inspection is being undertaken within the town. Though tho majority of tho oases > reported Mve been

of tho mild type, yet they are highly infectious and all the necessary precautious ato taken. DEATH AT CHRISTCHURCII SEVERAL PNEUMONIC CASES. By Tclegraph—Tres" Ap'wint.ion. Christchurch, February i. A woman, 33 years of ago, died in Hie Christchurch Hospital last night after a severe attack of influenza. She had been removed to the institution from a private hotel in the. city earlier in the day. The hospital authorities state that this is the only death from influenza which has occurred there for over a week. The isolation ward at tho hospital nt present contains seven fairly severe, cases «t the'pneumonic type, and five, or six mild eases. So far there has been a

fortunate absence of anything nt all resembling a "wave," and it is considered that if nil precautions arc observed there is not mueli chance of an alarming outb.vak occurring.

MORE CASES ON BREMEN. (Rec. February I, y.20 p.m.) Sydney, February 4. ■ There are four fresh cases of influenza amongst the crew of the steamer Bremen, which arrived tho other day from Wellington.—Press Assn.