INFLUENZA EPIDEMIC.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XL, Issue 1893, 22 October 1918, Page 2

INFLUENZA EPIDEMIC.

THE question of what steps .should be taken to disinfect the schools during the present epidemic of inliucnza was referred to an Auckland district health officer, Dr. T, J.

Hughes, who made the following statement: —“The infeetion of inlln-

enza practically takes place by contact only, from the spray from the mouth, especially during the act of coughing or sneezing, or through the sputum. Persons, therefore, should cough or sneeze into handkerchiefs. Expectoration in public places should bo avoided, and intimate contact, including kissing, should absolutely be guarded against. The powers of resistance of the organism causing influenza are of a low order outside the body. In ordinary circumstances the baecilli do not live for more than -.18 hours, and experiments with cull arcs show that they die within 20 hours. Therefore thorough ventilation of schools, etc., especially during week-ends, is practically disinfection as regards influenza. During an extensive epidemic in the United Stales iii 1015 reliance was placed greatly upon the thorough ventilation of all public buildings, carried out daily by the throwing open of windows for an hour after they ceased to be occupied and before being re-occupied in the mornings. In the case of schools, continuous picture 1 lien I res, etc., this also was carried out for at least live minutes between sessions. Similarly, (ramcars and other public conveyances were thoroughly ventilated by the throwing open of doors and windows for a few hours, and care was taken that sufficient windows were open at all times to ensure proper ventilation. The straps and seats in tramears were wiped with cloths moistened with antiseptics, while counter-railings, etc., in shops were similarly treated. In schools I would suggest that the thorough ventilation of all rooms be carried out in the above manner daily, together with the wiping down of desks with cloths moistened with antiseptics. Jn the ease of an organism which dies so rapully, ami which is spread practically only by contact, 1 am of opinion that such precautions in schools are practical and reasonable during epidemics of influenza. v