INFLUENZA EPIDEMIC.

Taranaki Daily News, 10 January 1919, Page 8

INFLUENZA EPIDEMIC.

AUSTRALIAN PRECAUTIONS. SYDNEY-REPORTED' FREE. , FIiESK CASES AT ADELAIDE AND FRK.VLyNTLE. Sydney, Jan. 9. The quarantine station is now free of patients, but there will -l)e no relaxation against vessels arriving from suspected areas while any danger of infection remains. Against the official arguments in favor of continuation of inoculation, despite the fact that danger of introduction of the scourge has practically passed, is a probalble recurrence in previously infected areas at some period next year, though possibly in a less virulent form-—Aus-N.Z. Cable Assoc. There have been no influenza case 3 since December 2S).

Perth, Jan. 9Another death occurred at Fremantle quarantine station from influenza.

Adelaide, Jan. 9 Four fresh cases of influenza have oc-curred..—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assoc.

The number of influenza cases in the Hawera Public Hospital are steadily decreasing, there being only seven patients in the institution at present. It is expected that the number will be reduced to three by the end of the week. No fresh cases have been admitted since Saturday, and all the patients now in hospital are progressing satisfactorily.— Star.

The Inspector-General of Hospitals (Dr Valintine) informed a Dominion representative on Tuesday that New Zealand .is a whole waß practically clear of influenza. The only part in which the epidemic still lingered was South Taranaki. A doctor despatched to investigate the position there had on Monday reported that matters were progressing quite satisfactorily The epidemic had been worst where the Maori population was greatest, and it had therefore taken longer to disappear from such a district as South Taranaki than from , other parts. A return of very valuable information regarding the disease, Dr- Valintine stated, was expected from inquiries which the Health Department was making abroad. Up to the present comparatively little information had been received as to the disease and the measures taken to combat it in ether countries. One very important question which might be settled upon data yet to be secured was the value of vaccine in fighting influenza. So far, only conflicting information upon that point had been received. • . A .,. v „..