The Extent of the Influenza Epidemic.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 475, 28 May 1890, Page 6

The Extent of the Influenza Epidemic.

A medical, adviser' of a life assurance society writes the following interesting letter : —The influenza epidemic was first noticed in Persia, and it travelled at first slowly and then more rapidly, throughout Europe, Russia, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Belgium, France, and England, and even America, as far as the Rocky Mountains, being in turn attacked. Probably there never has been an epidemic so rapid in its progress, so widespread, and attacking such vast numbers of the population of Europe since the epidemics of the Middle Ages. Although the symptoms and the duration vary in individuals, there can be little doubt that it is a specific fever, contagious, involving the nervous centres, liable to relapses and second attacks. The severity of the attack and symptomsappear to vary with age; persons from five to twenty appear to suffer least and recover quickest, whilst those between forty and sixty have the disease in its most aggravated and fatal forms. It is remarkable how some occupations appear practically to escape; for instance, the smacksmen in the North Sea—out of 7,000 there has been hardly a case, and in some of the fishing fleets none at all. On the other hand, in some factories and large warehouses and schools more than 50 percent, have been attacked. Few have probably formed any idea what the epidemic has cost the country. I think we may assume that the insurance companies and friendly societies will have paid for increased mortality and increase of sickness not far short of £1,000,000. From facts which are in my possession, I believe that I am understating the case when I assume that over 8 per cent, of the total population of Europe has been attacked.