SPECIAL SCHOOL PRECAUTIONS AGAINST PARALYSIS SPREAD

Grey River Argus, 18 September 1948, Page 3

SPECIAL SCHOOL PRECAUTIONS AGAINST PARALYSIS SPREAD

WELLINGTON, Sept. 17.

Referring to the re-opening next week of the schools in the Wellington area, which have been closed on account of poliomyelitis, the Minister of Health, Miss M. B. Howard, said to-day that the continued closure at this stage of the epidemic would not check the spread of the infection. Less than half the cases were school children.

“It is not yet known exactly how poliomyelitis spreads,” said the Minister. “Infection and spread may possibly occur as much or more through the contamination of food and drink as by droplet infection from the nose and throat. “In any epidemic, there are for each case with . paralysis certainly very large numbers of persons infected but showing no symptoms of the disease. This widespread, silent epidemic probably spreads in advance of the paralytic epidemic. It is therefore apparent - that in New Zealand the* poliomyelitis virus is already everywhere, for cases have occurred over the length and breath of the land.” PHYSICIANS’ REQUEST The statement said that the Royal Australian College of Physicians at their annual meeting in Dunedin last week, had considered measures for controlling the spread of polio. They passed this resolution for the Minister's consideration: —

“That at this stage of the epidemic no useful purpose can be served b> general closure of the schools. The carrier rate among adults and children is high and the incidence of mild and abortive cases is many times greater than the number requiring admission to hospital. The danger of spread from carriers and massed cases among children and adults is just as great as it is in proved and paralysed cases. There is convincing evidence from epidemics elsewhere that the general closure of schools has had no influence on the spread of the diseases or on its severity.”

Miss Howard said it was possible to watch for new cases in school children and obtain earlier diagnoses, isolation and treatment of them by having the schools open. The teachers, therefore, were being asked each morning after assembly to conduct a health inspection of their class. TEACHERS TO WATCH

The Minister said the teachers would watch for any sickness, such as mild infection with fever, malaise and sometimes headache and sore throat or gastro-intestinal symptoms. They would report any suspected sickness by telephone to the District Health Office. While the incidence in the Wellington area remained high, the district health nurses and, if necessary, medical officers would be withdrawn from other work to consult with teachers seeking assistance. Because infection might be spread through food and drink .by contaminated hands, the teachers are asked to insist that every pupil in the class washes his or her hands aftei’ every visit to the lavatory and before eating food. Parents should send a small hand towel with each child attending school so that individual towels could be used. NO COMPETITIVE SPORT The teachers were also asked to see that their pupils did not get over-tired at any activity. Competitive sport was probably unwise while poliomyelitis was active, as fatigue plays a part in reducing resistance to infection. The head teachers and school committees were asked, to pay particular attention to the cleanliness of the washing and lavatory facilities and to wage war on flies, as far as possible, on the school premises. Boarding schools should have daily health inspections conducted by the matron and generally follow the same line of action as recommended for the primary and secondary schools.

New Cases Reported

CHRISTCHURCH, Sept. 17.

A positive case of poliomyelitis was notilied this morning. The victim is a woman, aged 20. According to a Press Association message, two Wellington boys, aged two and four respectively, were admitted to hospital to-day suffering from poliomyelitis. There were 63 positive cases in the Wellington Public Hospital at noon to-day.

Another Case

in Canterbury

P.A. CHRISTCHURCH, Sept. 17 A positive case of poliomyelitis, a woman aged 20, from Opawa, was notified to the health department today. Since November 1, last there has been seven cases in Canterbury, ol whom three were adults.

Six Cases in

Hlinois Family

0 NEW YORK, Sept.’l6. A whole family of six children, ranging frorh\one to seven years, has been stricken with infantile paralysis at Deerfield, Illinois. The mother, Mrs Luella Huff, said: “We just can’t understand it. We’ve been ’so cautious. They were quarantined when we thought they had ’flu.”