INFLUENZA IN DOMINION.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3337, 15 November 1919, Page 7

INFLUENZA IN DOMINION.

SATISFACTORY ‘POSI'I‘ION«. HEALTH FILM TO BE SHOWN. VVELLINGTON, Nov. 13. Questioned as’ t-05 whether -any new form of influenza Was prevalent in Wellington, the district health ofiicer, Dr, H. H. Watt, stated to-day that the Department had not received any information to that eflect. “The influenza position is quite I'o- - Dr. \Vatt. remarked. “There is‘nol'leed.f~orthe public to become alarmed. Of course, there may be some cases of which the .Depal‘tment has not been notnfiéd, but I think we are being notified of all. severe cases that are conling under medical attention. The evidence at our disposal points to the position being.well in hand, and it does‘llot look -as if there will be a recrudescence of the 1918 epidemic this Year. '

“As regards the disease itself, influenza is still notifiable, and every medical‘ man is sufffaosed to report cases that come under his notice.” Dr. Watt. added that the figures for the whole of the Dominion from week to week showed ‘that. influenza. cases were remaining at a lo wlevel———about fifty or sixiy cases per week. A week ago some 90 cases were reporte<,l, but the figures really did not fluetuafe Very much. There Was nothing 111 17110 nature bf any wiclespread iepitikniie in any clistriet. In the Wellington public hea.l'th district the cases were Well distributed, and there was not an undue number in any one town. “We are keeping a close Watch on the position,” said Dr. VVatt, “and I will alvise the public to be careful. The people should not relax their prectuitions in any way.”

Dl’ VVatt intimated."th-at the Public Health Dep'art_nient was making arrangement to show throughout. the DO- - shortly a. einematograpli film emphasing the precautions that should be taken to guard against influenza contagion. The picture, which had passed through the hands of the censor, had been produced by the Local Government. Board in the United Kingdom during the height of the influenza. epidemic in 1918, and it would be exhibited at all picture theatres in the Dominion. The object of the film was to instruct the public regarding the dangers of over~el'owdin_e,j, defective ventilation, and to stress in The clearest. way possibye the need of fresh air a a protection against the insidious attacks -of disease germs conductive to the pread of influenza.