INFANTILE PARALYSIS

Hokitika Guardian, 22 December 1931, Page 2

INFANTILE PARALYSIS

SYDNEY OUTBREAK. PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES IN DOMINION. WELLINGTON, Dec. 18. Two days ago a cablegram appeared in the newspapers stating that the spread of infantile paralysis (poliomyelitis) was causing concern in Sydney, and that the number of cases there had trebled in a few weeks. On this being brought to the notice of the Minister of Health, he stated all steps possible were being taken to prevent the introduction of this disease in New Zealand. So far as poliomyelitis (.the medical name of the disease) is concerned, the Minister added that informat'on received from Australia has shown that in the early part of this year there was a fairly extensive. outbreak of the disease in Melbourne, and at that time Sydney was scarcely affected by it. The department was of the opinion that the present outbreak in Sydney probably had no connection with the Melbourne epidemic, the lapse of time having been too great. It was more than likely they were independent outbreaks.

Fortunately, the Minister said, New Zealand at the present time, is relatively free from infantile paralysis, and Hhe fact that an outbreak has occurred in Australia does not necessarily mean that the epidemic will spread to this country. The department points out that it is impossible to be dogmatic in regard to the disease of this nature. However, every possible step is being and will. continue to be taken to safeguard New Zealand from the introduction of the disease. INFORMATION ABOUT EPIDEMIC. Mr Young said that the New Zealand Department of Health received through the High Commissioner epidemiological reports from the English Ministry of Health, and from the Eastern Bureau of the League of Nations of Singapore. These reports give up-to-date information regarding the prevalence of epidemic diseases throughout the world. Another particularly valuable source of information was available as the result of a Pan-Pacific Health Conference held in Melbourne in 1926. An arrangement was made under which Melbourne became the clearing house for epidemic information respecting the countries and islands of the western and southern Pacific. In this way New Zealand is kept particularly well informed as to the diseases prevalentT'^t’firo 1 ugfiout the worfd, and particularly in the southern Pacific.