TOLL OF INFLUENZA.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 5024, 8 September 1926, Page 2

TOLL OF INFLUENZA.

, o THE RECENT EPIDEMIC. ORIGIN OF THE OUTBREAK. The recent influenza epidemic appears to have commenced in June, there being eight deaths from influenza recorded in the fourteen urban areas for that month (states the “Abstract of Statistics” for August). The report goes on to say that a rapid advance occurred the following month, the total number Of deaths for July reaching 65. This latter number compares very favourably with the experience of the past five years, approximating as it does, the total recorded for July, 1923, which was the year of the last epidemic.

“While attacking persons of all ages, the present epidemic, neverthei--less appears to be most fatal among person Of middle-life and old age,” adds the report. “Wellington urban area appears to have been the origin of the outbreak, no fewer than seven of the total eight deaths in urban areas being recorded therein. Christchurch thereafter suffered most, the number of deaths I'ecorde.d. for July being 29, or nearly 45 per cent, o'f the total!. Wellington and Auckland are next in numerical order, with totals of 12 and 9 deaths respectively. A comparison of the distribution of deaths from influenza over the Dominion in recent years shows, that' in normal circumstances Auckland urban area has predomnatedi while in times of epidemic the districts in the South Island appear to be chiefly a.ffe.cted.” The report points out that of the total of 65 deaths for July, 1926, pneumonia was specified as a complicating disease in 34 cases, bronchitis in nine cases, broncho-pneumonia in three, and other diseases of the respiratory system in three cases. The total number of deaths from influenza recorded for July would be. greatly augmented Were the number of cases included in which this disease was itself a contributory cause.