INFANTILE PARALYSIS

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 8, Issue 52, 1 March 1916, Page 4

INFANTILE PARALYSIS

There is no occasion for townspeople to work themselves into a state of frenzied sensationalism over the rumours that are persistently going round about the scourge of infantile paralysis being prevalent in Taihape. We have heard that there is one case, and we at once approached the health authorities to ascertain the facts. We understand that it is a reportable complaint, but we have not been able to learn whether any cases have been reported as the only representative of the Health Department was not at his office, probably being out of town. Borough Councils were the local health authorities to which such cases would be reported, but it seems that recent legislation has relieved them of that responsibility and has placed it on an Inspector who cannot be found when he is wanted. We have received a number of enquiries on the subject, and we are asked what a pub. lie journal is for; we are pointed to Hie fact that cases of infantile paralysis are being scrupulously reported ,in other centres and although this town is full of rumours nothing definite is learnable. Wo may say that ithe only authoritative news we have been able to publish in the past with respect to reportable diseases is that we get from the monthly report of the Wanganui Hospital Hoard, and, although we now have a resident Health Inspector we do not appear to be any better informed. Being governed in hospital matters by Wanganui is no credit to our own people nor is it productive of quickest and

best results, but there is a question that may have to be discussed in the near future. What we have a right to know now is: are there any cases of infantile paralysis in the borough, if so, how many? Preventive measures to obviate infection need to be observed. We know such cases are isolated by doctors and until it is shewn definitely there is no fear of infection spreading, ordinary care ought to be taken, but while cases are not reported—assuming there are cases —children may be mixing with contacts day after day without parents being aware of what their children 'are subjecting themselves to. If a danger to infant health lurks anywhere in our midst, let us know where it is so that we may take precautions, not forgetting the old saying, “To be I forewarned is to be fore-armed.”