CHILD PARALYSIS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 57, Issue 65, 26 December 1936, Page 5

CHILD PARALYSIS

TWO SUSPECTS AT DUNEDIN. NEITHER PATIENT PARALYSED BOY AGED FIVE; GIRL OF TWO. (Per Press Association.) DUNEDIN, This Day. Two fresh eases suspected of infantile paralysis have been admitted to the hospital for observation. One is a boy five years old, the other a girl two years of age. Neither case is paralysed. These returns indicate an easier situation. NO ADMISSIONS YESTERDAY DUNEDIN, December 25. The infantile paralysis position has considerably improved during the last two days. There were no admissions to hospital to-day, and only two cases were admitted yesterday, a boy aged nine and a boy of eight, both being for observation. The Medical Officer of Health (Dr. T. McKibbin) would not say that the epidemic in Dunedin was on the wane, although- he said, there was a- definite temporary lull at least. The public was ,responding remarkably well to the restrictions placed on the movements of children under 16 years of age, and only in one or two cases had the authofties met with trouble from persons travelling with children.

TWO WELLINGTON SUSPECTS. WELLINGTON, This Day. Two extremely doubtful suspects with no signs of paralysis have been admitted to the Wellington hospital. The first is a baby aged 20 months, placed in isolation on Wednesday, and the other is a girl aged three years, admitted late yesterday afternoon. BOY IN QUARANTINE AT AUCKLAND. AUCKLAND, December 25.

A boy, aged 13, who arrived by train from Dunedin lyesterday was placed in quarantine at the Auckland Hospital as a precautionary measure against the spread of infantile paralysis. The boy will be kept in the isolated ward at the hospital for a- week, and will receive nasal treatment while there. Auckland, however, is still free from any sign of infantile paralysis. Discussing the position to-niglit, the medical officer for health (Dr. P. J. Hughes) said there had been no further development in the city or suburbs. The boy who arrived from Dunedin yesterday is perfectly well and shows no symptoms to arouse alarm.

ORDERED TO RETURN HOME. DUNEDIN FAMILY AT TIMARU. TIMARII, December 25. A Dunedin family which arrived at Timaru yesterday was ordered to return home immediately when one or the number was found to have contracted infantile paralysis. Other than that no. further cases have been reported in South Canterbury. The family comprised the two parents, a boy| aged four years, and a baby of 10 months. They had motored from Dunedin in the morning, and soon after their arrival the baby was examined by a, doctor, who diagnosed a case of infantile paralysis. This was reported to the borough health inspector (Mr A. W. B. Watkinsqn), who immediately ordered the family to return south.' Two hours later they were on their way.

SUMMER SCHOOL. SOUTHERN TEACHERS EXCLUDED. WELLINGTON, December 24. Teachers from Otago and Southland are to be excluded front, the teachers’ summer school which is to be held at Napier this year from January 11 to January 21. There is even a possibility that the school will be abandoned.

The Director-General of Health (Dr. M. H. Watt) has advised Mr G. It. Ashbridge (secretary of the Summer School Society) that it would be wise to prohibit the attendance of teachers from Otago and Southland, but that it was too soon yet to say what opinion the Health Department would hold in January concerning the abandonment of the school.

About 100 teachers from all parts of the Dominion were expected to attend.