INFLUENZA OUTBREAK

Hokitika Guardian, 19 August 1921, Page 1

INFLUENZA OUTBREAK

•NO CAUSE KOI! AI.AILM.” | lIY TEI.KOItAI’IT-PER PRESS ASSOCIATION] WELLINGTON. Aug. Id Tlu* Director of Health. Dr Valentine, interviewed this evening regarding the prevalence ol influenza at Lyttelton said: I*l liink it is an unnecessariiv alarming telegram. I have heeii m communication with tlu* medical officer, Christchurch, with regard to these cases in the Maori and Mararoa. The two boats bare, been under surveillance by the Health Department for the past few days, but so far no deaths have U'cn reported. Eroin information from other parts of the Dominion (here is no reason for alarm. Pnermmiiia deaths, idw-avs an indication, ate lower than they were last week. We are keeping tin* matter very closely watched as you m av easily imagine. Though we have these cable reports that itilluctiza is raging in Sydney, we have no inlormatioii from the Sydney Health Authorities that there is any cause for alarm. We have got plenty of vaccine. It is available at the various hospitals, but from reports from the Hoard of Health in the l nited Kingdom, we do not led justified in actually recommending the public to submit to vaccinal ion, though t| K . vaccine is there for those who want it. POSITION IN AUCKLAND. AUCKLAND, Aug. Hi. Will reference tn the telegram from Christchurch reporting an outbreak of influenza among ships crews at Lyttelton, inquiry from Auckland ollicers. ol the Health Department: showed no inline,iza had been reported from shipping in this port. In view of the existence of the disease in the Paeilic .Isis,nils instructions had been issued lor |t icularly careful watch to l.« kepi „n shipping, but no trace of llie disease h:,d been found. So far as the situa--tion on shore is concerned, the authorities are not aware of influenza being prevalent. Ordinary eases are not now ,eported Pneumonic eases have been no center in number than is regarded as normal at the present season.