THE INFLUENZA EPIDEMIC.

Taihape Daily Times, 2 December 1918, Page 4

THE INFLUENZA EPIDEMIC.

WHY A SECOND WAVE? To the Editor. Sir, —It would be interesting to know what data the Hon. G. W. Eussell has for predicting another wave of the epidemic if he has any foundation for his remarks then he should have been in a position to predict the first wave of the disease. Personally I am of the opinion that New Zealand- is not likely to experience another wave of the epidemic if the general health of the people is attended to. and the sanitary conditions of all dwellings are carefully watched. The influenza bacilli is a vegetable matter, which first takes hold in the membrane Of the throat and nose. Nature has provided its own remedy by giving the blood certain organisms to fight and overcome the disease. When the patient is first attacked by the influenza germ a fierce fight takes place. If the blood has sufficient organisms to overcome the invading germs the patient recovers. If this was not so the epidemic would be always with us. In the first place it spread from one end of New Zealand to the other in the course of a few weeks. There are now enough people in Taihape alone suffering from the disease and people coming in eontact with them to keep the epidemic going for all time if it was not for the fact that every person that has Had it is less liable to contract it again, and all persons who come in close touch with influenza patients arc fortifying themselves against the disease. It is quite possible that nurses and doctors contract influenza every day and by their having sufficient organisms in their blood to destroy the invading germs they recover from the disease with little or no inconvenience being experienced. Many of the willing workers have remarked to me that they thought they had the trouble and expected to be laid up next day, but next day found the soldiers smiling on deck under the generalship of our worthy Mayor.—l am, etc.