INFLUENZA

New Zealand Listener, Volume 5, Issue 113, 22 August 1941, Page 14

INFLUENZA

| (Written for "The Listener" by DR.

H.

B.

TURBOTT

Director af the Division

of School Hygiene, Health Dept.)

but an ancient and _ inveterate enemy of our race, From 1173 onward, epidemics are recorded, explosive outbreaks that gravely raised the death rates. They came and went in waves, the big pandemics being remembered by the havoc caused. In the nineteenth century 1833, 1847 and 1889 were years of widespread virulent influenza. In the twentieth century who can have forgotten the 1918 pandemic that caused 3129 deaths per million of population in England and Wales, and about 5 per thousand of our New Zealand people in that year? When a virulent wave strikes, the country, beware: Influenza ranks among the great pestilences. | Bae is no modern upstart, Now, in between times, influenza never leaves us. You would almost think the culprit was a female, for each visit there seems to be a fondness for slightly different garb. One time: sore throats predominate, another time loss of voice, or coughs, or simply high fever-no two visits seem quite the same. But one thing is always sure, exhaustion, "’Flu" exhausts you out of all proportion to the length of time you are sick. Have you been out and come honse : with a dry, tickly, or sore throat? The eyes seem to burn. You are "unduly tired and weary. Next morning you feel rotten. Your nose is blocked. Your throat is worse. You sneeze and cough. You ache all over. But you are tough, You are not going to stay home from work. So off you drag yourself, and breathe, sneeze, and cough around so that others can share your troubles. You take a little punishment in. return, for you feel more and more miserable. You may struggle off to work next day, but that’s your last effort. That third day the "flu" virus will win, and you'll take the count. You'll have a high fever, you'll need a doctor; you will be a very sick person, who has to fight influenza for two or three weeks, and after that slowly get your strength back. This is influenza, caused by a virus working in the nose and throat. The virus is so small it cannot be seen under the microscope. It passes through the finest filter. It passes from the nose and throat of the sufferers, into the air we all breathe. That is the way we catch " fly." e Don’t be taking a chance with a "cold." None of us can tell at the start whether we are in for a "cold" or the "flu." That is why at the very beginning of either we’ should go to bed and stay there till better. It pays. It is the quickest way to recovery. It avoids pneumonia, infected ears, bronchitis, infected air cells in the face bones, Being safe in bed, you are guarded from others carrying the pneumonia germ just at the time when the influenza virus is working in the nose and throat and making it easy for the pneumonia one to get through. Being safe in bed, you are being good to others and them from being peppered with your — influenza virus. (Continued on next page)

INFLUENZA (Continued trom previous page) How are we going to escape influenza? While experiments are going on with vaccines, there’s not yet a sure preventive. There’s nothing yet that wiil buy you immunity from influenza. The ball is thrown back to you in the influenza prevention game. Stay away from colds and " flu,’ from those ‘who cough and sneeze. Don’t be visiting folk with influenza. When it is widespread in the town, avoid crowds. Get plenty of rest. Keep your clothing warm and dry. Get fresh air, indoors and out, but keep away from draughts. Eat fruits, vegetables, dairy foods, eggs and liverthese build up your resistance. If you think you’ve got the "flu" and are frightened you’re not winning through, call your doctor. © Don’t be tough with " flu." (NEXT WEEK: "Your, Work and Your Food," by DR. MURIEL BELL)