DIPHTHERIA OUTBREAK.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 4985, 9 June 1926, Page 2

DIPHTHERIA OUTBREAK.

DEPARTMENT ACTS PROMPTLY. CHILDREN TO BE INOCULATED. The Health Department has the situation regarding the .threatened epidemic of diphtheria well in hand (states the Thames Star). Dr. Mary Wilson, of the department’s Auckland Office, arrived at Thames on Monday, and immediately engaged in a campaign agaiftst the dreaded disea.se. This will take the form of the inoculation of all the children, provided the consent of the parents is first obtained. It is proposed to circularise all parents to this effect with a “form of consent” enclosed. The department’s circular explains that for the year ended December 31, 1925, there were 82 deaths in the Dominion, and emphasises the need for the utilise,tion of all possible methods of warIfare on the death-dealing germ.

THREE INJECTIONS. It is now possible to protect a child from diphtheria in the same way as vaccination gives immunity from smallpox. This is brought about by an injection of a vaccine (toxin-anti-tdxin) at weekly intervals for three weeks. It should be explained, however, that it takes time for the toxin to develop, a,nd complete immunisation may not be effected for several months. The injection is made in the arm, and is no more paiiiful than a mere pin prick. After effects are rare.

It is a fact that thousands df children in England and America receive this treatment yearly, which greatly lessens the incidence of the disease. In New Zeala.nd the treatment ha ; s been carried out in selected schools and orphanages with good results, and the department is therefore anxious to make toxin-antitoxin immunisation against diphtheria as widely available as possible.

AVOIDANCE OF RISK. It is felt that, with the presence of “a corner” at the Centra.l School, parents will readily fall in with the department’s request, and give every possible facility to Dr. Wilson, who is ready to commence the work immediately. The idea, as explained above, is to inoculate all the children at all the schools three times at weekly intervals. Parents requiring further illformation should communicate with or visit Dr. Wilson, whose headquarters will be at the Central and Thames South schools. Tn the meantime the schools will probably remain open, and a start was made yesterday with the fumigation of books, e.tc. There were no further admissions to. the hospital yesterday morning.