INFLUENZA OUTBREAK.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5074, 12 January 1927, Page 2

INFLUENZA OUTBREAK.

REPORTED EUROPEAN EPIDEMIC,

NO CAUSE FOR ALARM.

WELLINGTON, January 11.

On Friday last the Hon. J. A. Young, Minister of Health, sent a cable message to the High Commissioner, drawing attention to the fact that cable messages published in the Press, reported an alarming outbreak of influenza in Europe, and asking the High Commissioner to consult the British Minister of Health and cable advice as to the extent of the epidemic, and whether the cases were o’f the 1918 pandemic type or of the type such as we experienced in New Zealand, more particularly in the winten's. of 1920 and 1926.

The . Minister to-day received the following reassuring message from the High Commissioner, dated January 10

“Re your telegram of 7 regarding influenza. Figures, for Dsnmark, Norway, Sweden, Germany, and Hungary show no noteworthy increase., but increases are reported 'from France and Switzerland. There were 5'5 deaths in Paris 'for the fortnight ended December 11, and 150 for the fortnight ended December 25. In Switzerland there was a large increas;e of cases from 513 to 4107 for the same period, but there were few deaths.

“In England and Wales there have been as yet no outbreaks of any magnitude, but, as is usual at this time of the year, colds are fairly prevalent, though the death returns;, 10'5 in the great towns, show that these are not of a serious nature. The type so far shows no resemblance to that of 1918, and is mainly confined to people of advanced age.”