INFECTIOUS DISEASES

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 181, 27 April 1920, Page 8

INFECTIOUS DISEASES

DETAILS FOR THE WEEK

INCREASE IN INFLUENZA CASES

POSITION AT THE SCHOOLS

During the week ended noon yesterday, uH cases of infectious disease wero reported in' the Wellington public health district, an increaso of 103 compared with tho previous week. The number of cases of influenza notified was 287— 80 mora than during tho week ended April 19. Twelve of the case? were of the pneumonio type, hut the remainder were classified as mild. Of the pneumonic cases, 5 were reported from Wellington city, 2 from lower Hutt, 3 from .Marton, 1 from Stratford, and 1 from Ifartinborough. In Wellington city there were also H cases of mild influenza, 10 at Lower Hutt and 5 at Petone. A case of lethargic encophalitis reported from Palmerston' North. . Discussing tho influenza, position with a Dominion reporter yesterday, Dr. I. E. Paris, District Health Officer, said that the figures for Wellington city showed an increase of. 17 compared with 'last week. Considering tho population of Wellington, tho increase could not be raid to be very great. With tho exception of tho Ifilbirnio School, the attendances at tho schools were practically normal; thus showing that tho children were not being affected unduly. At ICilbirnio School on Thursday 140 children were absent out of a roll call of 410, but eince then the position had improved considerably. Tho attendance at the Maranui School was reduced yesterday br the fact that 22 pupils in Standard 111. as well as the teacher, were 'Apparently one child in this standard had been attending school while suffering from influenza, and the rest of tho pupils in the class had contracted infection: this illustrated tho rapidity with which influenza spread. Dr. Faris remarked that during tho visit of tho Prince of Wales the children would no doubt be spending a good deal of time in the open air, and this, it was to be hoped, would assist in retarding tho spread of the disease among the young. Following are details of the cases of. infectious diseases reported during tho week, tho figures for the previous week : also being given:— ' This Last, i Week. Week. Influenza 287 207 Pneumonia 16 2 Scarlet fever 3 5 Diphtheria 28 21 Enteric fever 1 0 Tuberculous 2 3 Lethargic encephalitis ... 1 0 . ■ Puerperal septicaemia ... 1 ■ 0 Erysipelas 2 0 Total . 341 . 238 The cases of infectious disease were reported from the following hospital districts :—Waipawa: Diphtheria, 2; influenza, 3; pneumonia, 1. Taranaki: Diphtheria, 3; tuberculosis, 1; influenza, 21; pneumonia, 1. Stratford: Influenza, 17. Hawera: Diphtheria, 4; influenza, 14. Patea: Diphtheria, 1; tuberculosis, 1. Wangamii: Diphtheria, 2; enteric fever, 1; puerperal septicaemia, 1; influenza, 62. Palmerston North: Scarlet fever,-2; diphtheria, 3; influenza, 13; pneumonia, 2; lethargic encephalatis, 1. Wellington: Scarlet fever, 1; diphtheria, 3: influenza, 96; pneumonia, 12; erysipelas, 1. Wairarapa:. Diphtheria, 3; influenza, 14. ' Wairau: Influenza, 11. Nelson: Diphtheria, 7; influenza, 36; erysipelas, 1.

FEWER INFLUENZA CASES IN CIIRISTCHURCH. By Telegraph—Press Asioo'nticn.'

-Christchurch, April 26. "Taking it on the whol6, the. position seems to bo easing," was tho comment of tho District Health. Officcr when questioned this morning regarding tne ' influenza epidemic. "For two days—that is, during the period' from Saturday at noon l until to-day it noon—the notifications have been practically the sarno as for ono day previously,"