INFLUENZA EPIDEMIC.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 May 1919, Page 5

INFLUENZA EPIDEMIC.

DANGER PASSED. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. The Minister for Health (Hon. W. Rut'sell) states that reports received indicate that influenza is now well in hand in the Dominion, and indications of a recrudescence, which were rather strong a few weeks ago, have not materialised. It was necessary, however, to follow a policy of caution for • little while longer, but directlf the position in Australia had sufficiently improved to make it probable that no danger would be incurred thereby, the people would be permitted to return to New Zealand. The Department reports to the Minister that ample stocks of vaccines have been prepared and distributed to various hospital boards, to be available to those practitioners desiring to use them. The Department does not recommend i innoculation, as results where it was tried were not convincing enough to justify general adoption. NEW ZEALAND CASES. Wellington, Last Night. A report furnished to the Minister for Public Health shows: that the number of cases of influenza notified between May 19 and 23 was 29, of which live were severe. There were two pneumonic cases in the Waikato, and one pneumonic and two severe in North Canterbury. All the rest were mild. The cases, according to the health districts, were as follows: Auckland Health District 7, Wellington 11, Canterbury 8, Otago 3. THE MAROONED NEW ZEALANDERS. A VAGUE PROMISE. Received May 2G, 11.50 p.mSydney, May 26. Sir James Allen (acting-Premier) has cabled the stranded New Zeala'nders that, provided reports of the epidemic continued satisfactory, he hoped to arrange to repatriate email batches in a fortI night's time. ! The New ZeaUuders replied regretting the vagueness of the promise and suggesting that a full s.hip of passengers should leave next week under strict medical quarantine arrangements as follows: Three consecutive days' examlnaiirm lmfore embarkation, three days' nuarantine on board in Sydney, and four days on vovage. Tf this is unacceptable, explicit reasons are desired.