INFLUENZA.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 2061, 29 November 1919, Page 3

INFLUENZA.

“NO CAUSE FOR ALARM.” The Acting-Chief Health Officer, Dr. R. H. is reassuring in his comments upon, the increase in the nhmber of influenza cases notified. “The position is in no way alarming,” he said. “The eases show no tendency to revert to the severe type of last year. There is a slight recrudescence of the ordinary type affecting parts of the Auckland and Wellington districts, and there is very slight evidence of recrudescence in Christchurch, and none at all in Otago or Southland. At this time of year there is generally a good deal of catarrh-prevalent. Probably the present situation is no worse than what it is every year. As we have never before had notifications of influenza at our disposal, wc have no means of comparing this year’s figures with those of previous years. The Registrar-Gen-eral’s statistics as to deaths show that during the spring months pneumonic complications are somewhat prevalent. These are yesterday’s (Thursday’s) notifications to noon: Auckland province, including Waikato, 11 eases, of which two are severe; Wellington province, including'Ha wkes Bay, Taranaki and A,elson, 10 cases, of which one is severe; Canterbury, including Wosllaml, (I cases, of which one is severe; Otago and Southland, no cases. That shows that all through the Dominion there were only 27 cases notitled yesterday, of which four are of a severe type. AVe cannot say, therefore, Hint there is any epidemie. Some of (lie cases recently notified indicate small outbreaks of influenza in schools. A few cases of influenza in a school —a common enough thing at ail times — will pul up our notifications and cause alarm. Personally, 1 have no cause for alarm whatsoever. The Department is watching the position closely, and if any reason for doing so arises, precautions will at once bo instituted in Hie way of prohibiting public gatherings.”