INFLUENZA IN EUROPE

Hokitika Guardian, 11 January 1927, Page 4

INFLUENZA IN EUROPE

UNLIKELY iO AFFECT NEAV ZEALAND. AYELLINGTON, January 7. j The attention of medical officers of the Department of Health was drawn to the cable message from London today giving some particulars, of the winter influenza epidemic in Europe. In judging the significance of a cable message of this kind, it was pointed out, due allowance should be made with respect to the populations ol *h cities and countries referred to. The present indications are that Europe is experiencing a winter influenza epidemic with a degree of severity corresponding to the epidemic experienced by New Zealand in the winter months of 1920. The figures appear to indicate that Europe’s visitation is somewhat more severe than that New Zealand experienced last winter, hut up to the present, at all events, the indications are that the epidemic docs not approach the terrible pandemic of 1918 in severity. It should he noted that the epidemic occurred in New Zealand from November 1 fill the end of December, and caused 0800 deaths. including .Maoris.

The epidemic which Europe is now experiencing appears, as stated, to he the common winter type of influenza, with pneumonia in severe form. It is unlikely that New Zealand will be. affected before next winter or late autumn. if at all. It cannot he too often pointed out that the so-called inlluenza epidemic of 1918 had some very special features, it occurred here in the summer months; it affected the middleaged and robust rather than the aged and the young ; it caused haemorrhages and a holiotropc-hued face, and clinically was in many respects totally different from the inlluenza, with pneumonia, usually experienced.

It will be noted from the cable message, for example, that Madrid, with a population of 1,122,000, had as many as 94 deaths in one week; that 100,000 people are affected in the south or France; and that there have been 20,000 cases in Berlin. Berlin has a population of approximately 4,000.000 and. of course, that of the south of France is very great. Certainly Montpellier. a town in southern France, with a population of only 81.000, appears to he .suffering severely, since the cable message indicates that the deaths average twentv a day. However, it may be that the Montpellier hospitals provide for a wide district, and serve a

much greater ponulntion. Brioily, the position can he summed up. according to medical men. as being severe for Europe, but nothing approaching the epidemic of 1918. and there is no apparent danger to New Zealand. We export influenza more in the winter months, and the time taken in the voyage, from Europe to New Zealand is very much greater than the incubation period of the disease, which is a matter of days.