CHILDREN BARRED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26635, 4 December 1947, Page 6

CHILDREN BARRED

! Visits to Otago Board’s ' Hospitals j PRECAUTIONARY REGULATION » ■ As a precaution against the spread of infantile paralysis, ' hospitals under the control of the Otago Hospital Board were i closed to all visitors under 16 years of age as from yesterday morning. Only the immediate relatives or guardians of patients will be allowed to visit the children’s wards. When announcing the precautions that had been taken, Dr A. S. Moody, chairman of the Otago Hospital Board, said that it was not a panic measure, but was being taken before there was any question of |the disease arising in Otago. He added that it was impossible to tdiagnose some cases as being positive poliomyelitis, and difficulties in diagnosis would undoubtedly arise. i If any members of the public felt any doubts about diagnosis, said -Dr Moody, the Hospital Board would arrange for a senior medical practitioner to see the child with their own doctor if they so desired.

Dr Moody said it was possible that 'there might be carriers in the. community ' who might start an epidemic, though this was not regarded as likely. “We are expecting an influx of southern children who are boarders jn North Island schools,” he said, 4‘and it is necessary for thd Otago Hospital Board to adopt every precaution and to realise that this is no time to trifle with the matter.” % No Local Notifications I The district medical officer of health, Dr G. O. L. Dempster, said yesterday that no cases of poliomyelitis had been reported in the Dunedin district.

Because of the infantile paralysis epidemic in the North Island two training courses for secondary school cadets have been postponed. These courses were to have been held at Burnham- Camp in January, but Dun'edin secondary schools were notified yesterday that they will not take place. A decision about conducting an officers’ course in January will be made later this month.