Meningitis Is Cause Of Three Deaths

Taranaki Daily News, 26 August 1942, Page 2

Meningitis Is Cause Of Three Deaths

Spinal form of disease increases in Taranaki. Three children suffering from spinal meningitis died in the New Plymouth hospital district .at the week-end. One lived near Inglewood, another at New Plymouth and the third in the coastal district. Though he admitted there had been a noticeable increase in spinal meningitis cases in Taranaki compared with last year and earlier months this year, Dr. T. H. Blakelock, district medical officer of health, said last night that there was no need for undue alarm. All the cases had occurred sporadically, and so far the authorities had been unable .to establish a connection between any two of them. The disease was not of epidemic proportions. Very careful checks were being made for possible contacts, said Dr. C. A. Tayior, medical superintendent of the New Plymouth hospital, in discussing precautions being taken in the -district. He pointed out that there was a general increase in the disease throughout the Dominion, and Taranaki was not exceptional in having more cases than usual. Dr. Taylor suggested the cerebrospinal, or contagious, form of the disease, should not be confused with other kinds. Patients were being affected differently, some mildly, while others, more virulently afflicted, went down extraordinarily quickly. The new drug sulphapyridine was a great boon in fighting the eickness, it was stated.