WELLINGTON DISTRICT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26639, 9 December 1947, Page 4

WELLINGTON DISTRICT

FOUR DEFINITE CASES SUSPECT REPORTED AT NELSON P.A. WELLINGTON, Dec. 8. There are now four positive cases of poliomyelitis in the Wellington Hospital. Three of them—all adults—have been diagnosed from the seven suspects under observation there on Sunday. The remaining four of these suspects have been diagnosed as negative. No further suspects have been reported. The fourth positive case is a Hutt child admitted to the hospital late on Sunday night. Two of the adult positives also come from Hutt. the third being from Wellington. The first suspect in the South Island was reported this afternoon. A male suspect in the Nelson district was reported to Dr Hubert Smith, the district medical, officer of health at Wellington, within whose area Nelson is included. No cases have yet been reported in the Palmerston North, Wanganui, and Hawke's Bay provincial districts. ,

Commenting on the position to-day, the Director-general of Health. Dr T. R. Ritchie, said the epidemic was smouldering on. How quickly it was not possible to know because there were so many suspected cases. “It will be good luck if it does not spread, but we are trying to get in ahead of it,” he said. While the deDartment had not considered imposing general restrictions on travel, he said that it might have to do so.