INFANTILE PARALYSIS

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 407, 14 April 1937, Page 6

INFANTILE PARALYSIS

PRECAUTIONS IN WELLINGTON. Secondary Schools Closed. Press Association—Copyright. Wellington, April 13. In connection v.'iih. Uie .infantile paralysis epidemic, the Minister of Health, Hon.’ P. Fraser, issued a statement, to-day that in addition to the closing c.f the primary schools at Wellington, all post-primary schools at Well|ngtiD j nJ and al primary and post-primary schools in .the Hutt Valley district should be closed until further notice. The Minister added that the measure v'as precautionary and the position was not regarded as serious. He had received a statement from the Director-General of Health showing the following cases ast Wellington since December: December 1, January 2. February' 1, March 2, April 13. It would be seen from these figures, said Mr Fraser, that the present month had shown an increase in the incidence of fthe disease. The cases; fortunately, were oY a com para, tive'y minor nature. There had been no deaths. - Only eight of the cases had shown any paralysis, and of these eight only half, or even less, are regarded ac serious. The present epidemic, which had an explosive onset at Dunedin in December, had since pursued a comparatively mild course. Certain districts, particularly Invercargill, South Canterbury, Hawke's Bay and Hauraki Plains, had experienced an epidemic . a lesser degree than Dunedin, and in each there had been a fairly response to the pre- a measures. The posit Iqiu was ntfw regarded as satisfactory. £8 LESSONS BY WIRELESS. Details 'of a scheme for carrying on the work of primary schools irtj the Wellington district during theperiod the schools are closed are be~ ing worked out by the Fdu rati off Board in conjunction with represent atives of ?the teachers. The secretary said that the scheme would eh.-* tail the transmission of lessons through the newspapers and by broadcasting and efforts are being n.t3de to have it inaugurated as soon as possible. ; The broadcasting service had already agreed to allot 9.30 to 10.30 each morning and was prepared to start <ag soon as, .the board had- rhe detaJs Afranged. The work done by : pupils will be posted to the head teachers of the -schools. Tv>o paralysis eases were nd mitred to the Greymouth hospital io-day\ One patient died an hour after admlsßiom He'was a man aged 51, from Te Kingja. He leaves a family of seven. Both legs were paralysed been in f or two or ithree days.. |phe, other case is a boy from Cobden’ four yea rat - His right leg is .mildly child had -been ill for ten days iand the parents were apt aware of the seriousness of the trouble.