MANY CASES IN CHRISTCHURCH.

Ashburton Guardian, Issue 9284, 20 April 1920, Page 5

MANY CASES IN CHRISTCHURCH.

(Per Press Association.)

CHRISTCHURCH, April 20. Threat, of a widespread influenza outbreak on the eve of a visit of the Prince of Wales led to the adoption of certain precautionary measures in the city yesterday, '

Dr T.. P. Telford, District" Health 1 Officer,, stated that since Wednesday, April. 14, there had been a considerable increase in the nwmber of .influenza Gases reported in the city. From 31 the number of fresh notifications per. day had grown to 120, including twen-ty-two fresh cases at Christ's College, which was closed, and .ten cases at the Maori pa. near Lyttelton. The authori•ties had decided to close several schools ;a* a. precautionary measure, and at ; Fendalton the committee had acted on : their own initiative. Of the 120 fresh ■ ea«es, one was ordinary pneumonia, ; three were pneumonic, and the balance weue of the mild type.. The position 'jw-as- not alarming, in any way. The ac:tion taken by the Department was purely precautionary in. view of the coming; visit of tlie Frliiee of Wales. '■. The. cause of the; sudden outbreak was ; probably the cold-two days' snap experienced last week. The best precautionary measure was. to "avoid crowded places." Children rqp to fifteen years of age should not be: allowed in theatres or* other places ■ of amusement. Mr G. E. Blanchej, headmaster- or Christ's College;, stated, yesterday that no virulent, cases had. been reported amongst- boys> at. the 1 college.. Although the college- was closed' as; far, as day pupils were- concerned,, boaruers were being taught, in the schools as usual-.

The Boys' High School, was. closed yesterday for at least a week,, and ail the'boys who> attended in the morning were sent home.. It is stated that 130 boys failed, to - attend, but all these'are not influenza- patients;. Four of :the masters are- suffering, from, the- comoiiiint. •

Mr L. A..Stringer, registrar, of (Canterbury College is; a pa.tient,. The chairman of the Board of Governors, Mr H. D. Acland, is alsos laid up t . Mr H. C. Lane, secretary of the-Edu-cation Board, said that, as the attendance at two or three subm"?an schools had been affected.by the outbreak of. a mild type of influenza, it had been decided to close them in order to 1 minimise the risk of the epidemic spreading. The schools- closed were•:—Eeibdalton, Waltham.' and two at New Brighton. It was expected', that they would be closed for. a week.. St. Andrew's College, PapanUi.ltoad, was closed" yesterday, on account, of in:fluenza. ( ' The Mayor (Dr Thacker,,. M.P.) said yesterday that it had been reported to. him that influenza cases: were increasing in the city, and he-had decided,, in consequence, to summon, a meeting of. the Influenza Committee/ for to-day. The weekly bulletin of infectious diseases issued by the Department at;noonyesterday is as follows-:— Westland—Two diphtheria. Buller—lß influenza;, mild;;; threepneumonic. Grey—Two diphtheria i ; ' ■ •.; North Canterbury—One scarlet: fever 16 diphtheria, nine/tuberculosis,, one puerperal septicaemia; six pneumonia?,. 449 influenza, niild ;: one pneumonic ihirinuenza; four measles;:two I'erysipelas-;.

Ashburton—Two- diphtheria, one- tar berculosis, 22 influenza, mildl.

South .Canterbury—l 29' influenza, mild; one pneumonic influenza 1..

Total—669

Later:." Other suburban schools. clbsed: toKTay on- account of influenza..