OUTBREAK OF INFLUENZA.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 August 1921, Page 4

OUTBREAK OF INFLUENZA.

TWO DEATHS AT LYTTELTON. CONFINED TO SEAMEN, felegraph —Press Association. ChrieLcbitrch. Lapt Night. An outbreak of influenza in a sever* form has occurred on some of the vessel*, at Lyttelton, and there- have been at least two deaths. At the beginning of the month it was necessary to remove some of the crew of the Maori to hospital, and one man, a fireman, died and was buried at Lyttelton. The chief cook of the Waimarino died ofti .Saturday in the Christchurch Hospital after contracting influenza. Some of the crew of the Mararoa were sent ashore; they appear to be suffering from severe colds. As yet there is not spread of influenza amonogst the residents at Lyttelton. The disease is also not prevalent, except in a mild form, in Christchurch. “UNNECESSARILY ALARMING.” STATEMENT BY DR. VALENTINE. Wellington, La?t Night. On the telegram from Christchurch regarding influenza being submitted to the Director of Health (Dr. Valintine/ by a reporter, he said: “I think it is mi unnecessarily alarming telegram. I have been in com'municatiod with the medical officer in Christchurch with regard to these cafies on the Maori and the Mararoa, and the two boats have been under surveillance by the Health Department for the past -few days, but so far no deaths have been reported. From information from other parts of the Dominion, there is no reason foi alarm. ’Pneumonia deaths, always an indication, are lower than they were last week. We are keeping the mattei very closely watched, as you may easily imagine. Though we have the cabli reports that influenza is raging in Sydney, we have no information from thi Sydney health authorities that there ii any cause for alarm. We have got plen ty of vaccine, and it is available a-’ the various hospitals, but from report! from the Board of Health in the United Kingdom we do not feel justified in actually recommending the public to submit to vaccination, though vaccine is there for those who want it.”