THE SPANISH “FLU.”

Taihape Daily Times, 27 September 1918, Page 5

THE SPANISH “FLU.”

EPIDMIO IN SYDNEY. WELLINGTON, Sept. 6 Letters from Sydney state that the epidemic of influenza, known as “Spanish” has caused some deaths in that city. There is a fear that returning soldiers have brought the germs of influenza that has raged through several countries of Europe and Great Britain. The Wellington District Health Officer, Dr, Watt, states that no report from port health officers have indicated that they have observed any signs of severe influenza among passengers from Australia. Of course, as the early symptoms of influenza are similar to those of a common cold, it would be difficult to diagnose incipient influenza without bacteriological examination.

Dr. Watt, as the result of reading English authorities gives it as his opinion that the general epidemic of influenza in England has been severe, not because the disease is of a newkind but because war conflations including diet, have reduced the dis-ease-resisting strength of the public. The'“British Medical Journal” of the 27th of July, states that the influenza epidemic has been on the wane, both in Britain and the Continent. Deaths in the Old Country was mostly among the older patients, with hmg? already diseased. Dr Watt remarked that outbreaks of influenza have occurred in several districts in New Zealand during the past month. The township of Wai-‘ one, near Dannevirke, was very heavily smitten, H believes that the disuse is not a new form of but a recurrence .of an which; (has *em!aSn.ed esdha&e isiSi®'. it reached Now Zealand nearly thirty years ago.