The Influenza Epidemic.

Taihape Daily Times, 6 November 1918, Page 5

The Influenza Epidemic.

IN ENGLAND. Received 12.10 a.m. . LONDON, Nov 5. Influenza is still serious in London; fifty-five were seized in' the streets and sent to the hospitals in 24 hours; 2SI were thus seized in ton days; 325 nurses in ten Metropolitan asylums and board hospitals are stricken; 580 omnibus drivers and conductors are ill.

IN NEW ZEALAND. GRAVE SITUATION IN AUCKLAND. AUCKLAND, Nov 5. There have been at least 16 more deaths.: Sixty-five hospital nurses are down, filling two wards. Forty soldiers in the Annexe are affected. There were 615 applications for, medical assistance to-day, and 30 serious cases were ‘admitted to the hospital. The extremely serious nature of the influenza epidemic has been impressed upon the Minister for Public Health so forcibly that instead cf returning to Wellington to-night he decided to remain here until ail arrangements for fighting the disease are in hand.

EFFECT ON RAILWAY SERVICES.

DOCTORS SENT TO AUCKLAND. WELLINGTON, this "day. In view of the serious effect of the influenza epidemic on the Railway Department staff a railway official states it will probably be necessary to matecrially curtail both goods and passenger services in the North Island. Three hundred members of the running staff alone are ill at present. The Pacific Cable Go’s steamer Iris, which has been repairing one of the Cook Strait cables, arrived at Wellington. witn o 9 members of the ship s crew down with influenza. Two who developed acute pneumonia, were removed to the hospital. The Minister of Defence stats*?, that in response to an appeal ten doctors have gone to Auckland, and three more would follow. It was hoped also to release some dispensers at present in camp. IN TAIHAPE.

1 ; In common with other parts of the | Dominion Taihape is in the power qf j the influenza epidemic though the form is less malignant ’than in Auckland. There is hardly a family i n the town which has not one or more members down with the complaint. So far there have been two deaths. . The attendance at the local school is suffering to a certain extent from t e visitation, several pupils and teachers being absent. There is no need at Resent to consider seriously the question of closing the school. The staffs qf several of our business people have been depleted through t e influenza, and some have difficulty in carrying on. The twot>doctors arc having a very trying time. Dr. Sinclair is in the | giip of the nialady, his patients being \ carcd for by Dr. MneDiarmid.