INFLUENZA.

Hokitika Guardian, 10 August 1926, Page 3

INFLUENZA.

[nY TELEGRAPH— PER PRESS ASSOCIATION. 1 Dr. VALTNTINE’S VIEW. GISBORNE, August 9. An assurance that no pneumonic influenza, such as swept away thousands in the 191 S visitation, is prevailing in tho Dominion at the present time, was given to the members of the Cook Hospital Board by Dr Valintine, Director-General of Health, when addressing a special meeting to-day. “WH.it is your opinion on the influem:n epidemic in Gisborne at the present time:'” Mr H. 1-1. Decosta asked Dr Valintine.

Proceeding Mr Decosta stated that it had been claimed - that there wore pneumonic cases in Poverty Bay and lie wanted to know if any notification Lid been received by the Department. If so, and if this information was divulged, it would he an incentive to the public to take greater precautions.”

“There is no pneumonic influenza such as we know it in that terrible visitation of 1918 in the Dominion at the present time,” replied Dr Yulintino.

“ft is true that one or two cases have given the Department some anxiety. hut these cases were not of the type prevalent in that deadly scourge. Don’t think, .for one moment, that there i.s a case in the Dominion like we had in 1918. I can speak fairly eniphaticn.'lyt in that it was through that epidemic when we lost 5000 in three weeks. It was the most awful visitation I- hitve seen of plague, cholera- and other scourges. He said the epidemic of that year reminded him of Defoes’ account of the Great Plague in London of 1606.

He 'concluded by saying that it would bo extraordinary if a similar visitation came in New Zealand for many years, and lie said that, while they should be always on tile lookout for such epidemics of that nature, he could assure them there was no noec, for alarm. So far the Health Officer Had reported there was no cases of pneumonic flu in Gisborne.