INFLUENZA

Southland Times, Issue 18816, 8 May 1920, Page 5

INFLUENZA

MILO EPIDEMIC IN SCHOOLS. ROLL AVERAGE DROPS CONSIDERABLY. “At present we have from 70 to 90 pupils absent daily,” said the headmaster of a local school yesterday to a Times reporter, “but it must not be imagined that the whole of those are suffering from the prevailing epidemic.” He went on to say that a great number of those absent were kept at. home to help, while others were kept away by their parents in the fear that they might contract the illness. The symptoms pointed to influenza, but of a mild type, and. people should discredit many of the stories circulated about pupils collapsing in the grounds and teachers being down with it. The position was becoming serious from an attendance point,. and was interfering greatly with the work of the school. In conclusion he stated that at the beginning of the year the health authorities had dosed all the Southland schools when there was no epidemic, but at the present time the Department was doing nothing and should take some precautions to prevent the spread of the present outbreak. The position was not an enviable one, and he was referring the matter to his committee, which was to meet last night. When the above facts were communicated to the secretary of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, who has charge of -the Health Department in Invercargill, he said that it was the fir-t intimation he had had of any serious epidemic being present in Invercargill. The Department had several notifications of influenza cases, but they were all of a mild type and not of sufficient numbers to warrant any scare. He would have the suspected outbreak investigated and would then know how to act.

NOTIFICATIONS AT AUCKLAND. (Per United Press Association.) AUCKLAND, May 7. Received May 7, 9.45 p.m.) Hie number of influenza cases notified for the 24 hours ended at noon to-day is 204, a reduction of twelve since the previous report for a similar period. Of these 193 are mild and 11 severe.