INFLUENZA EPIDEMIC.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 November 1918, Page 2

INFLUENZA EPIDEMIC.

TWO DEATHS IN CAMP, By Telegraph,—Press Association. Wellington, Nov. 7. Seven hospital nurses arc down with influenza. Tbere have been two deaths of soldiers, one at I'catheKton and the other at Trenthain. CONDITIONS AT AUCKLAND. WORKERS URGENTLY WANTED. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Auckland, Wednesday. The total deaths from influenza for the four weeks ending yesterday are 62, and probably others are not yet registered. There is still a great dearth of nurses and the city organisation is unable to provide the necessary assistance for stricken homes. Six hundred applications for help were received to-day, against 420 yesterday. Thirteen additional workers offered their services today to the city organisation, making the total 44, This number is far below the requirements, said Miss Bagley, at the Central Depot, and I can place another 40. It is most distressing that so many in the community have failed to rise to the occasion. Every day brings new and urgent calls, but not new workers, so that where assistance is sought today \ve are compelled to withhold it until to-morrow. It is a deplorable thing Requests for food are received all day long and two troops of boy scouts are busy distributing it to needy eases from the depot. A total of 1130 people passthrough one inhalation room to-day. The Mayor is making representations to the Health authorities on the question of forbidding all public assemblages. The Caltholic Church has placed at the disposal of the hospital the. Bermont Street Girls' School, capable of accommo- ■ dating 100 patients, together with a complete nursing staff. A number of vessels of the mosquito fleet are hung up. The Criminal Sessions of the Supreme Court have been postponed for a month. | Auckland, Nov. 7, The health authorities have ordered all schools, publio and private, hi the Auckland district to be closed forthwith. WANGANOT PREPARATIONS. TO liiaST TJJJ3 EPIDEMIC. Wanganui, Nov. 7. Although tho influenza epidemic has not made its appearance here, except in a mild form, the Borough Council has taken prompt measures to prevent its spread, and extensive disinfecting is being carried out under municipal auspices. Business people and householders

are urged to purchase a disinfectant which is being retailed by the council cheaply. Arrangements have been made to supply disinfectants and gargles to school children free daily. The Stewart Home, owned by the council, will, if be converted into a temporary hospital for influenza patients. Arrangements to this effect were completed to-day with the Hospital Board. A medical officer, tvo nurses, and large medical supplies were despatched by the board to-day for Taulnarumii and Ohakune. Sine schools in the 'Wanganui Eduea- J tion District, on the Main Trunk line, 1 have 'been closed. All these schools are ! on the. railway line. Inland schools are riot affected. Owing to the number of teachers affected, it « practically impossible to supply relief, which, in some eases, has necessitated closing the school* i

SEVERE OUTBREAK AT PALMERSTPN. p&lmerston N,, Nov. 7. The influenza outbreak in Palinerston SCorth is very severe, with no signs of abatement. The Government departments are severely affected, especially the Railways and -Post and Telegraph. The College Street School has been closed, owing to the depletion of the staff, and it is likely other schools will follow imt. The Minister for Public Health, who passed through here this morning, expressed a strong opinion that there should be no congregation of adults and children in confined spaces, and schools should 'be closed and places of amusement sprayed daily. The local health authorities are taking &11 precautions to prevent the spread ot diphtheria, which has made its appearance amongst the pupils of one school. PRECAUTIONS AT NEW PLYMOUTH. The health authorities for New Plymouth are fullr alive to the danger of the spread of the Infection in this district, and arc endeavoring to get the necessary departmental sanction to institute preventive measures against the spread of the disease. Immediately it became known that the disease was a notifiable one, the secretary of the hospital Board despatched s.e urgent wire to the Department, as follows: Influenza prevalent; spreading. Realise necessity inhalation chamber, here. Please instruct inspector neces- : ■sary particulars. « The only reply to the foregoing inquiry was the following telegram, received on Wednesday afternoon:— : Get in touch with medical superintendent, view to providing extra accommodation in case needed for influenza. Generally speaking, cases should bo left in their own homes, and:only those who require special treatment.or. are- not in a" position to be isolated should be ,accommodated, in hospital. Advise get. in touch>,local..Red Cross organisation, with.* view to. providing nursing for attending patients in own homes.: ■' : ' <>: '■- .•* ■ ■■•■-, ■'

Following '■&s/ r tho local'health inspector made direct inquiry of the Department' as to'.''what"* e! sl> oU W' *o in «oineetionwith 7 ' tliir'epideniie, and" he received tie fallowing' telegraphic.: answer :.:—< ' .. "'.' . '" !'' ; 'V-.'. ' " Influenza" declared.^dangerous/ disease- Insist strict isolation cases;' Destroy sputum and nasal mucus 1 . AdTiss all contacts use gargles nasal douches. Considering the information given not altogether satisfactory, the Hospital Board wired farther, -yesterday, as follows: Advise doflnite instructions. Are ' we to fumigate .boats and passengers arriving at port and by railway', also, are schools * and picture theatres to lie- closed? Influenza hero somewhat mild form at present. a . No-reply had bcea .received to the above last evening:— Subsequently a conference was helft' between the Borough Council and the Hospital Board, and. at Was, decided to wire direct to- the (Mini* '* to Pubfce iEEeaia, as i oltoww— At a. conference- si£ Borougn Couneßi

intentient, resolved ask Minister Publie Health declare Auckland an infected area, bo that passengers by railway and boat may be isolated and disinfected. Please advise are we to fumigate boats and passengers arriving »t port and by rail. If necessary, please advise officers of port. Mo reply had 'ooen. received to the above iaac nifftt. 'Pie Hospital Board, however, are taking steps to have theatres, schools, trumuars and railway carriages properly fumigated, the controlling anjhorities in the case 3 of trams and railways undertaking to have the work done. The board also asks the business people to thoroughly disinfect their premises., especially where people congregate, and so endeavor to give the disease no ch'ince of getting a hold in" the community. The Borough Council is cooperating with the Hospital [Board in every way possible, and has placed the services of its inspector at the disposal of the board, and Messrs Kendal! and Day -Brill have authority to insist on the carrying out o? any scheme the board may adopt to prevent the spread of the epidemic. Loral waterside workers, it is understood, have approached the Northern Shipping Company, seeking information as to whether the Rarawa is fumigated before leaving Onehunga, otherwise it is probable they will decline to work, the vessel. This will also apply to other shipping. It is likely that the. health authorities will also insist oil all boata being fumigated prior to sailing from New Plymouth.