INFLUENZA.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 February 1920, Page 5

INFLUENZA.

THE POSITION IN TARANAKI. NO EPIDEMIC INDICATIONS. There are 110 indications of an epidemic of influenza in New Plymouth. There are several cases, and some, of them are of a severe nature, but there is nothing to point to a recurrence of the wave of influenza which swept the country in 1918. Three pneumonic cases have been reported at New Plymouth. The authorities have, as in other parts of New Zealand, taken every precaution to deal with a spread of influenza. The chairman of the Taranaki Hospital tioard (Mr. M. Fraser) has been in consultation with the medical profession and with the Health Department, Wellington. The Mayor (Mr. J. Clarke) stated yesterday that steps to deal with an epidemic could be put in operation at an hour or two's notice. The following infectious diseases wars reported in Taranaki during the week ending at noon on Monday:— Scarlet fever—Taranaki 1, Stratford 1. Influenza—Taranaki 3, Stratford 3, Hawera 5, Patea 1. Diphtheria—Taranaki 2, Hawera 3, Patea 1. Enysopelas—Hawera 1, Patea 1. Pneumonia—Patea I. The pneumonic cases were distributed as follow:—New; Plymouth 8, Stratford 1. THE POSITION REVIEWED. A REASSURING STATEMENT. I

SOUND ADVICE TO THE PUBLIC. By Telegraph.—Press Association. . Wellington, Last Night. Influenza in a mild form has become prevalent throughout the country, and while there is no cause for alarm it would appear that the public would be well advised to take common eense precautions.

That, at any rate, was the opinion expressed by the Acting-Chief Health Officer (Dr. H. Makgill)' to-day. "The return of influenza notifications throughout the Dominion for the week ending February 2," said Dr. Makgill, "shows there has been a considerable increase over preceding weeks. For (he week ending. January 12th, there were 138 cases reported in New Zealand; for the week ending January 10th, 273 cases; for the week ending 26th January, 352 cases; for the week ending 2nd February, 7!>2 cases. However, it is satisfactorily to And the proportion of pneumonic or otherwise severe cases has not increased in proportion. "It may 'be mentioned that the cases of plain pneumonia notified in the weeks under review were 40, 27, 33, and 24 respectively, which is a pretty fair indication of the tendency at present for pulmonary infection of that kind. So lijng as complicated cases and cases of an out and out pneumonic type keep low like this, there is no cause for apprehension.

''The influence of warm weather fortunately is assisting to keep down pulmonary complications. We see in this the value of an open air life, and for that reason the opening of schools has been postponed ko that children may have the advantage of being out of doors as much as possible. Had the schools been open we would not have considered the present position sufficiently serious to have warranted us in closing them down.

'lt is, of course, a fact that children, while they are avoiding the possible dangers of schools, are in some cases going to pictures and in other ways exposing themselves to the chance of infection. We do not consider the position serious enough to warrant us in closing down picture theatres. If we did, could we logically allow other public gatherings, such as occur at auction sales, race meetings, churches, and in hotel bars? If the position should warrant such action in future we will certainly take it. '"Persons who are nervous about infection should avoid crowded places, such a.9 trams, trains, and theatres. We do not intend, however, even should the disease become more severe, to adopt a mask, which is of very dubious value, nor is there any intention to resume the use of public inhalation chambers. A much better protection, and one available to everyone, is to wash out the nose and throat twice daily with a warm salt solution, about a teaspoon of salt to a pint of warm water; also to sniff some mentholated vaselene after using the other solution. It is ft sound precaution. Vaccination has produced somewftat contradictory results and opinions, but in the cases of waterside workers and sailors, who are more likely to be exposed to severe • infection, we think vaccination should be adopted, and we are arranging the opening in the main centres of clinics, at which any waterpidcr or sailor may receive free treatment.

"Influenza is a disease the spread of which is beyond departmental control Its rprend is so rapid and insiduous tliat it is universally agreed by authorities that there are no measures which will prevent its spread once it starts. The most effective measures rest chiefly with the public themselves. They can, by the use of a little common sense, minimise both the spread of infection and the severity of the disease. One of the wisest steps to take is to avoid unnecessary crowds, and ensure adequato ventilation and cleanliness in ell homes, [f any person is infected they should immediately go to bed, thus minimising their own risk of developing pneumonic and other complications, and also doing away with the danger of infecting others."

Dr. Makgill summed up the present position in the following words: ''Had the present conditions arisen two years I apo very little notice would have been I taken of it, but the experience of 1918 showed us what a treacherous disease influenza is, and we cannot ignore it even in its present form. Therefore, we are ready for it." CANTERBURY SCHOOLS CLOSE. Christchurch, Last' Night. The District Health Oflicor has received instructions to immediately close all schools in the Canterbury district as a precautionary measure against the j spread of influenza. HAWKE'S BAY SCHOOLS CLOSE. Napier, Last Night. | All Hawke's Bay schools are closed

.—_.....■■.—,.■■■..■ „,, 111 .^—p— MILD CASES m DUNEDDT. ' , ; ADVICE OF DOCTORS. Dunediri, Feb. #. The influenza cases in Dunedin Hoipu tal, 17 in number, are all mild. A meeting of medical passed resolutions pointing out that It was unwise and risky for people to congregate in largo numbers indoors; alas that, while they do not propose the iin* mediate postponement of next week's carnival, they make strong representations to the Department of Public Health that, if matters show signs of becoming serious within the next few dftys, the department should not hesitate to take Bteps to effect such postponement.. CASES ON THE BREMEN. By Telcffraph.—Pt««s Aatn—Cotyrijut. ißeceived Feb. 3, 10J20 p.m. s Sydney, Feb. S. There are seven further cases of influi enza amongst the crew of the Bremen. None are serious.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Asm.