MORE DIPHTHERIA

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 647, 26 April 1929, Page 6

MORE DIPHTHERIA

SEASONAL INCREASES DYSENTERY LESSENING Although diphtheria notifications show an increase in Auckland, the cases are not regarded by the Health Department as a sign of prevalency for this period of the year. The end of April and the month of May each year see a big increase in cases of diphtheria, hut the cases noted in .Auckland so far do not approach those of 1924, when there was unusual prevalency, or even those of last year, in January, 13 cases of diphtheria were reported, 18 in February, 25 in March and 51 this month. In April, 1924, there were 115 cases. Scarlet fever is fairly prevalent, but the position is not more than seasonal. The last severe outbreak of the fever was in 1916. Another case reported in Auckland this morning brought the total for April to 44. Last month there were 49 cases and. In February, 43. Although four fresh cases of dysentery were notified yesterday and this morning, the epidemic is considered to have run its’ course in Auckland. In South Auckland, however, new cases are numerous. Of 22 cases reported to the department in Auckland on Wednesday, IS were from South Auckland, in Rotorua and 'Waikato. Yesterday, another native inspector and another departmental nurse were dispatched for work among the Maoris. Most of the cases are comparatively old. Some of the patients have had dysentery for weeks, so that newly-reported cases cannot be regarded as new infections.