INFLUENZA OUTBREAK

Wairarapa Times-Age, 5 June 1940, Page 2

INFLUENZA OUTBREAK

AT PAPAKURA CAMP.

LARGE NUMBERS OF SOLDIERS ILL. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, June 4. As a result of an epidemic of influenza at Papakura mobilisation camp about 90 soldiers of the third echelon have been sent to the Auckland Hospital and to specially evacuated wards at the infirmary. Epsom. It is considered possible that the number of cases tomorrow may each about 150, and the influx of military patients has created acute difficulties for the hospital authorities, who were already faced with the problem of overcrowded institutions.

The chairman of the hospital board, Mr Allan Moody, said the position at the camp was causing hospital authorities concern. Influenza was on the increase and the board’s resources were being taxed to the utmost. Fortunately, while the epidemic was of a severe type, pneumonic and other complications had been rare among reported cases.

“All the men are being sent to the already overcrowded hospital, and we are finding that we shall be able to do little more,’’ he continued. “To ease the position I made immediate arrangements for two 20-bed wards at the infirmary to be evacuated and extra equipment as well as necessary medical and nursing staffs have been transferred from the hospital. The board intends to do its utmost to see that the soldiers receive proper attention and has, I think, risen to the occasion.

“However, in view of the seriousness of the epidemic, it seems to me the military authorities should consider the practicability of ceasing heavy training at the camp and, by stopping leave and visitors, reduce the incidence of the epidemic.”

EPIDEMIC AT BURNHAM. EPIDEMIC RUNNING NORMAL COURSE. CHRISTCHURCH. June 4. Between 100 and 200 soldiers from Burnham camp are in hospital with influenza. They are in the wards in the Chistchurch Public, Hospital, the soldiers’ wards at Burwood Hospital, and in the hospital wards at the camp itself. Authorities consider that the epidemic is running a normal course and say some of the first cases to go down are now in a convalescent state.