The Influenza Epidemic.

Taihape Daily Times, 8 November 1918, Page 5

The Influenza Epidemic.

DEATHS FROM INFLUENZA,

APPALLING FIGURES

Received Noon.

LONDON, Nov 8.

Official: Deaths from influenza in the great towns of England and Wales are 7417, compared with 4482 last week, the respective totals for London being 4167 and 2227.

AT AUCKLAND.

The influenza epidemic is raging in Auckland with increased virulence.

The Acting-Chief Health Officer has to-day issued a notice requiring the immediate closing of all places of entertainment, public halls, billiard rooms and shooting galleries for one week. This notice, includes the Auckland Eacing Club ’s place and buildings, .and means that no racing can be held on Saturday. Inquiry from the Acting-Chief Health Officer elicits that yesterday Dr. District Health Officer, Auckland, had tho greatest possible difficulty in getting motor .cars for the special doctors, and that their visits were delayed by this want. To-day the .Health Department has taken measures to prevent the congregation of the public in many places of resort. The details of the measures so taken are not yet available for publication, but they arc of a character which will merit tho highest degree of public approval.

There is no more accommodation at the General Hospital, for every single bed available for influenza cases is occupied. Ward 19 has been filled, and the congestion is terribie. All the most serious eases have been admitted and many of the patients arc afflicted with other disorders through which the malady has attacked them. For it is a feature of this virulent form of the pandemic, that it attacks through any weak point. There were 10 deaths f on Wednesday. All schools have been compulsorily closed. This includes secondary as well as primary schools, the following order having been issued by the District Health Officer: —“ Pursuant to the provisions of section 18 of the Public Health Act, 1908, and in exercise of the special authority conferred upon me by the Governor-General, I, Thomas! John Fulcher District Health Officer for the'Auckland health district, hereby require that all schools in the Auckland education district shall forthwith be isolated by being closed until such time as I further direct.” *

Every school, whatever its classification, has been ordered closed by authority of the Health Department. All services and public activities are being hampered more and more. There

were ten deaths in the hospital on Wednesday, and with others that have occurred outside the death roll at noon yesterday had gone up past seventy. Medical men urge that people do not allow themselves to get into a state of panic or funk. Time and again doctors have been called out to cases were no dangerous symptoms. This moans that they hav< prevented from attending more cases and death has followed. People are urged

not to call in a doctor unless the case Js urgent. Medical men are already jPoing more than ©an humanly be ei-

The following questions were put in writing to the Health Department today by a local business man, and the answers appended were returned. The

information is of if only because it is some days since general directions for preventing' infection were printed by the authorities.

What precautions should be taken in offices, etc.? —Sprinkle about the office a weak solution of “Kerol” or Jeyes * fluid. What mouth-wash or other preventive should be used?— Gargle with a weak solution of Condy’s or Jeyes’ fluid.

What remedy should be used when the first Symptoms appdpr ?■—Obtain the standard influenza mixture, take a dose, go to bed, and keep warm. Has any systematic course been sug: gcsted? Good ventilation should be’ observed in offices. If leave .all windows open, and if a caretaker is available, open them in the evenings for a couple of hours after 5 p.ra.

WHANGAREI HARD HIT.

PATIENT DIES ON TRAIN,

WHANGARBI, this day,

Influenza is becoming general throughout Wbangarei district. Seventeen railways employees are down, the post and telegraph staff is seriously depleted, and both services are maintained under great difficulties. The staffs of the banks and business places are severely reduced. A single woman, Susan Morrow, when being brought, with five other patients, to Whangarei for hospital treatment, died on the train this morning.

SEVERE IN KING COUNTRY.

MATIERE, this day. MATIERE, Nov 8.

In every direction the epidemic is very severe in all the settlements in the Ohura districts. Railway construction on the new line is at a standstill, the Jugoslavs being all down. Timber mills are compelled to close owing to lack of staff. The railway at Taumarunui is badly “under the weather.”

1345 CASES IN THE CAMPS.

WELLINGTON, this day.

The total influenza patients in Featherston and Trentham camps number 1346. Several soldiers have died in various centres from influenza.

The fire brigade is already shortstaffed and the number is further depleted by influenza:

TWO SOLDIBKS DEAD.

SEVEN WELLINGTON NURSES ILL

WELLINGTON, Nov. 8.

Seven hospital nurses are down with influenza. Two deaths of soldiers, one at Featherston and the other at Trentham, 'arc reported.