GREEK EPIDEMIC

Hokitika Guardian, 29 August 1928, Page 2

GREEK EPIDEMIC

HOST OF VICTIMS. Australian Press Assn.—United Service ATHENS, Aug. 27. A serious epidemic of dengue fever is reported. There are one hundred and fifty thousand eases. No fatalities have been recorded, hut the victims are reduced to shadows. The telephones are not working, as the result of the epidemic- and the railway services are only in skeleton form. Other public services also are not functioning. The social life of the country is at a standstill. The shops are empty, except those of the chemists, which are being besieged for aspirin.

The ice makers are unable to cope with the demand.

DEATH RATE DOUBLED. LONDON, August 28 The Times’ Athens correspondent reports that the construction of a tunnel in connection with a scheme of railway electrification, which has exposed old drains, is now blamed for the epidemic of dengue fever, which lias assumed alarming proportions. Tile epidemic, is doubling the death rate in Athens and in Piraeus. It is estimated that there are from one hundred and sixty thousand to twohundred thousand .cases. Business is paralysed in both the cities named. Many of the offices and factories are closed, and at the leading hank there are only twenty out of 180 employees working, while the Government railways, the trams and postal services are completely disorganised. Athens reports a shortage of drugs. The consumption o.f bread lias dropped from 225 tons to- 75 tons daily. The town is deserted at sunset. Tho League of Nations has notified the dispatch of Dr 31ai.kenz.ie, an expert in tropical diseases, to study the situation.

The disease, dengue fever, is usually of from six to ten days’ duration and it is not in the most fatal form . It is spreading to the provinces where it is being carried by the population, who are migrating to avoid the contagion.