KEEPING OFF EPIDEMICS.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 May 1922, Page 8

KEEPING OFF EPIDEMICS.

INFLUENZA AND PLAGUE. MINISTER OPTIMISTIC. Between influenza, plague, and typhoid the position of the Hon. C. J. Parr, as head of the department guarding New Zealand’s public health, has been one of anxiety during the last few months. The Minister was, however, able to give a very reassuring survey of the position the other day. He had received the weekly cablegram regarding health conditions from the High Commissioner, which showed that the influenza epidemic in Northern Europe end America has died down. “Up to the present,” he remarked, “we have succeeded in staving it oil" in New Zealand, and it looks as if that cloud is lifting from our horizon.” Turning to another threatened trouble from the outside, that of bubonic plague, the Minister stated that there were still sporadic cases in Sydney, but New Zealand had got through two dangerous months without any appearance of this disease, and if it passed May and June with similar success it would have further reason for congratulation. “There is no question,” said Mr. Parr, “that wholesale destruction of vermin and a general clean up of the cities has served to minimise the chance of these centres becoming nests of infection, but it is necessary to preserve a policy of watchfulness during the coming two months.”

As for the typhoid outbreak in Auckland, the Minister said all inquiries showed that there Was no doubt the outbreak was due to the pollution of the water supply from an undrained portion of Mount Albert, but the use of infected water had been discontinued since April 13, so that for two days the period of infection had passed, and he looked for improvement right away. There were always sporadic cases of typhoid in New Zealand at this season, but he regarded the Auckland epidemic as. past.