EPIDEMIC IN LONDON.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 December 1918, Page 2

EPIDEMIC IN LONDON.

AGE AND INCIDENCE. DIRECTION OF THE SPREAD. The Public Health Committee of the London County Council reported recently that it was estimated that the influenza epidemic between June 15 and August 3 caused over 1000 to 1700 deaths in London. The clinical features left no doubt' that the disease was identical with the epidemic influenza of 18i>0, but the difference in age incidence was noteworthy. In 11)18, as compared with earlier epidemics, the incidence was higher between ages 5 to 45, and lower at ages over 40, Concurrently with the influenza mortality, there was a large increase in deaths from bronchitis and pneumonia, and as this increase could not lie accounted for by any abnormal climatic' conditions by which these diseases are governed, it was reasonable to assume that the major part of the added deaths from these causes were of influenzal origin. The epidemic' was first reported in Spain. Generally speaking it moved northwards in Europe and eastwards in India, and this movement would be consistent with the hypothesis or thread from the Mediterranean. In previous similar epidemics the progression has been westwards in Europe, the country country of origin usually being Russia. The war, has, however, fundamentally changed the general character of European traffic —that from east to west being, suspended, while the north and south traffic has been greatly augmented; and In the absence of other definable factors it was reasonable to as? sume that the abnormal progression of the present epidemic had mainly been determined bv the changed lines of inter communication.