INFLUENZA CASES

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 278, 18 August 1921, Page 4

INFLUENZA CASES

"UNNECESSARILY ALARMING” REPORT. The direotor-General of the Health Department (Dr. Valintine) considers that the Christchurch telegram regarding influenza on ships at Lyttelton, which was published yesterday, is unnecessarily alarming* “.I have been i n communiejvlion with the medical officer, Christchurch, with regard to these eases on the Maori and the Mararoa," he says. "The two boats have been under surveillance by the Health Department for tho past/ew days, but so far no deaths have been reported. From the information from other parts of the Dominion there is no reason for alarm. The pneumonia, deaths, always an indication, are lower than they were last week. Wo aro keeping the matter very closely watched as you may easily imagine; and though we have these cable reports that influenza is raging iii Sydney, we have no information from the Sydney Health authorities that there is any cause for alarm. Wo have got plenty of vaccine. It is available nt the various hospitals. But, from the reports from the Board of Health in tha United Kingdom, we do not feel justified in actually recommend»ng tho public io submit to vaccination; though the vaccine is there for those who want it." STATEMENT REITER ATED. By Telegraph—Press Association. Christchurch, August 17. Notwithstanding that the Director of Health has reported that no death has occurred on the ferry Ixiats, the fact remains that on Friday, August 5. a fireman died in the Christchurch Hospital, and tho certificate of death slated that he died from influenza. A largo number of sailors have been paid off in Lyttelton during tho last three weeks, with medical certificates stating that they were suffering from influenza. Yesterday tho engineer* of fhe Mararoa and a fireman were taken off the vessel at Wellington, while this morning' the second officer was. confined to his room, and was to be taken off also. All are suffering front high temperatures. During the last weekean average of one fireman a day has been taken off tho Mararoa. suffering from influenza. Tho ferry boats seem to bo worse sufferers, but other vessels are also partly affected.