INFLUENZA EPIDEMIC.

Hokitika Guardian, 19 December 1918, Page 1

INFLUENZA EPIDEMIC.

>EI! t'a*CSß ASSOCIATION.—COFYR'GHI.; THE NAVUA. QUARANTINED AT WELLINGTON. WELLINGTON, Dec. 16. The Navua, from San Francisco via Papeete, arrived in the stream to-day, and went into quarantine immediately. The term of quarantine Is not yet announced, but it will be at least three days. The ship was free of influenza on leaving Papeete, and there have been no, fresh cases. The Navua carries,, a considerable amount of cargo urgently needed for the Christinas trade in Christchurch, but it is extremely doubtful whetherthe goods will reach Lyttelton before Christmas. 'There /are. 1900 to up of transhipment cargo in Wellington stores already awaiting, ship for Lyttelton, and unless arrangements are made to have the Navua’s cargo specially treated, this other cargo will have to go before a single case from the Navua can he shipped south. THOUSANDS OF DEATHS. TORONTO, Nov. 1. The Spanish influenza epidemic has been for the past two or three weeks sweeping Canada- from cud to end, taking a heavy toll of deaths ,either from the influeiyoi itself or its sequel in a large proportion of cases, pneumonia. Meetings of all kinds,- and in many places gatherings of any kind of more than twenty-five persons, have been forbidden; schools, churches, theatres, movies, pool rooms, and other similar gathering, places- closed, even outdoor games prohibited to avoid the congregating of spectators. Victory Loan meetings have been in some places excepted. Thousands of deaths have occurred, and many thousands more of persons are still sick. The ban on meetings etc., is gradually being removed in many places in Ontario and other eastern provinces, but in the west the epidemic is still about at its worst. All ages succumb, but a large proportion of the victims arc those between fifteen and forty.. Many prominent persons have died. THE DEATH ROLL. IN FOUR CHIEF CITIES. WELLINGTON, This D ,v Hon. G. W. Russell stated to-day that the Registrar-General has supplied the following figures showing the deaths from influenza, or pneumonia, following influenza, at the four chief centres from October lsfc to December 17th: AUCKLAND 1021 WELLINGTON 554 CHRISTCHURCH 466 DUNEDIN 304 Total 2345 The Minister is unable to, supply the figures for the country districts.