INFLUENZA OUTBREAK.

Hokitika Guardian, 8 September 1923, Page 1

INFLUENZA OUTBREAK.

DANGER NOW WELL PASSED. '>N. WELLINGTON, Sept. 5. Official figures obtained yesterday showed that tlie recent outbreak ol influenza was much more serious than was indicated by the isolated figures, published, and claimed more death victims than many people imagined. Except in Taranaki, where 32 cases were reported last week, the epidemic which raged from .south to north ot tho Dominion ha.s died down until it is now practically normal. It has been a serious outbreak, for from its commencement early in June until August 31st., it had claimed 189 victims by death. In the first month tho number of eases, which were confined to Otago and later spread to Canterbury, rose from nine to 50, and increased more rapidly, gradually extending in area until it was raging from one end of the Dominion to the other. It was not until the beginning cf July that it began to gain a serious hold in the North Island, when out of a total of 88 cases on July 16th., 7i occurred in the South, and 17 in the North Island. At the end of July the cases reported numbered 144, with a, slight falling off in tlie following week, but it rose to the maximum height of 187 for tlio week ending August 13th., of which 46 came from tho south, the rest occurring at Auckland, Hawke’s Bay and Hawera. Wellington’s highest figure for one week was 25, which was lower than for the other centres. In the six, weeks from July 17th. to August 30th, there were 151 deaths.

The epidemic lias now abated until teh number of cases reported for tlio week ending September 3rd. was 57, of which 32 came from Taranaki district, the remaining 25 being spread all over the Dominion. In the course of a. very few days, if the good wen-

,tiler continues, it is expectod tl the “fiu” will havo entirely died do'