INFLUENZA.

Shannon News, 31 July 1923, Page 3

INFLUENZA.

* HOW TO, AVOID INFECTION. ADVICE BY THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH. In view of the prevalence of influenza in Otago and Canterbury the. following advice is recoimnieeded by the! Department of Health:— “Those who are able to do so will diminish their chance of contracting the disease, by keeping .away from all places of public resoirt indeed and all crowded conveyances. All chilling of the body surface should be prevented. A simple, throat gargle for ordinary use can he made by adding 20 drops of liquor sodae chlorinatae; to a tumbler of warm water. A solution of common table salt., one teaspoonful to a pint- in waim water to which is added enough permanganate of potash (Gondy’s crystals) to give! the liquid a light pink colour is suitable either as a gargle or for washing the nasal passage l . For the latteir a little of the liquid may be poured into' the hollow palm of the hand or into a small shallow receptacle, and sniffed or drawn up the nostrils. Throat gargling and nose washing are recommended night and morning, or more frequielntly as preventive measures. Staying at work after the first symptoms appear is bad for the patient and may be dangerous to others. Workers obviously ill should at once be sent or taken home. At. the first feeling of illness or rise of temperature the. patient should go to bed, keep warm;, and seek medical treatment. The early stages of an attack are the most infective but infection will persist throughout the illness. The patient should remain in bed at least until the temperature is. normal. If the patient cannot occupy a separate 1 room the head of his bed; should, if possible, be screened off from: the rest of the apartment. Relapses and complication are much less likely to occur if the patient goes to (bed at once and remains there) till all fever has gone for two or three days. Much harm may be done by getting about too early. Chill and oveir-ie/xertion during convalescence are fruitful of civil consequences. The virus of influenza is very easily destroyed, and extensive measures of disinfection are not called for. Discarded handkerchiefs should be immediately placed in disinfectants, or, if of paper, burnt. The liability of the immediate attendants to infection may be naturally diminished by avoiding inhalation of the patient’s breath, ,a,nd particularly when he is coughing, sneezing or talking. A handkerchief or other screen should be held beforei the mtouth, and; the head turned aside during coughing and sneezing. The) ■risk of conveyance-of infection by the fingers must be constantly remembered. and the hands should be washed at once aftietr contact with the patient or with mucus from thei nose or throat. The patient’s recovery should be fully established before he returns to work. The Health Officer (Mr Huggins) says there is nothing to be alarmed at as nearly all the cases reported are of a, m;ihi nature. This advice! is given only ns a precaution. He; states the position in Otago and Southland is well in; hand. »