INFLUENZA EPIDEMIC.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 February 1919, Page 5

INFLUENZA EPIDEMIC.

—: — I | IN AUSTRALIA. Sydney, Feb. 17. The Minister of Public Health ior New Sauth Wales states that the influenza outlook is distinctly reassuring. Melbourne, Feb. 17. There were 38 deaths from influenza (luring the week-end.—Aus.-N.Z. Cabli Assn. Received Feb. 17, 10 p.m. Sydney, Feb. 17. The restrictions relating to suburban schools have been relaxed, provided there are open-air classes. Melbourne, Feb. 17. There were eighteen deaths from influenza to-day. THE ROYAL COMMISSION. Auckland, Feb. 17. The Epidemic Commission opened and adjourned till Wednesday, there being only two witnesses ready, Drs. Hughes and Maguire, to deal with the first phase of the inquiry, viz., the condition in Auckland prior to the arrival of the Niagara. ])r Hughes said that, from the reports of departmental officers it was shown that influenza was present in Auckland throughout the year being most in evidence from .Tune onwards. One severe case, involving the loss of a woman's voice, came under his notice the same day as" he' went on board the Niagara. Dr. Maguire said that prior to October 12, when the Niagara arrived, no case of influenza had been admitted to the hospital for four months. He had not heard of any pneumonic influenza outside during the same period. The first cases admitted to the hospital were 28 cases from the Niagara on October 12 Of this number three were suffering frotn bronchial pneumonia. Six more were admitted from the Niagara next day, one being very bad with bronchial pneumonia. On October 21 two nurses from the Niagara were admitted, making the total 37. Only two Niagara patients died in the hospital, ohe nurse and one member of the crew. From October 12 to December 14 a total of 845 cases were admitted to the hospital. There were ISB deaths from influenza in the that period. He had heard that influenza was prevalent in Narrow Neck Camp before October 12. The commission decided to call evidence on this point. THE POSITION IN VICTORIA. Chrietehurch, Last Night. The secretary of the Canterbury Commercial Travellers' Association to-day received the. following cable message from Melbourne from the secretary of the Victorian Commercial Travellers' Association: "On behalf of this association I am directed to state that most exaggerated repor's have evidently been circulated re- , gardhg the influenza outbreak in Vic- . toria. Not a single case exists among our four thousand members, who are proceed- , ing with business as usual. There is no evidence available that the epidemic, which h now steadily abating, is other thaii tie pre-war type of influenza. Please coriinn niiate this to your members and , to the daily press."