NEW INFLUENZA.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 4977, 21 May 1926, Page 1

NEW INFLUENZA.

SWEEPING THROUGH BRITAIN. THOUSANDS OF CASES REPORTED. Thousands of people haye. been prevented from going away for their Easter holidays; by an epidemic of influenza. which is sweeping over the whole of England and Scotland, attacking most 'of its victims with violent headache and sickness. Doctors in London are overwhelmed by the number of their patients, more than ha ; lf of whom are suffering fronv tire disease. There aie 140 policemen and 200 railwaymen off duty in Glasgow. Manchester is also in the grip of a severe epidemic. The present epidemic consists of three distinct types—gastric influenza, which is the copimonest, influenzal catarrh, and influenzal; pneumonia.. “I would not describe the. present epidemic as serious, but it is far more widespread than usual,” said a 1 medical man. “This is due perhapsi to the tsudden change in the weather, and to the recent cold winds. “There is, however, no great danger of complications setting in/providing people take care' of themsl'ves and go to bed directly they feel ill. Most of my cases have been quite straightforward, but ’ where 'complications have occurred they have invariab.y affected, the ea.r.' A violent headache and a, feeling of intense sickness may be taken as a, warning.” A remarkable feature of the disease has been the suddenness with which it has attacked people. . In one instance a family were all taken ill within' .the space of twenty-four hours. People h.a,ve been struck down in the streets, or they have collapsed at thea,t'ro<s; or restaurants).