NOT ALARMING

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 69, Issue 78, 12 January 1949, Page 3

NOT ALARMING

Spread of Influenza in Europe IN A MILD FORM ONLY (N.Z.P. A.—Copyright) (Rec. 9.35 a.m.) PARIS, Jan. 11. The World Health Organisation’s division, of epidemiology reported that influenza is spreading in Europe, but in a mild form and the situation is rrot alarming, says the Associated Press correspondent. It received replies from 12 of 26 Goverments queried over the weekend.

The disease is receding in Italy, where it first appeared early in November, but still prevails in a mild clinical form in Eastern and Northern France, down to Limoges and Lyons. The disease reached epidemic proportions in the southern provinces of the Netherlands and cases of deaths from pneumonia have been reported.

Several thousand cases have been noted in Vorrarlberg and the Tyrol, in Austria.

The United States zone of Germany, Spain and Hungary have not been touched. Sweden, Norway, Finland and Denmark reported no abnormal rise m incidence compared with the figures of 1948.

Although isolated cases have been observed in England there is no suggestion of epidemic. The prevalence in Turkey is reported to be small localised outbreaks in certain towns. The special influenza laboratory of the Medical Research Council at Hampstead (London) is attempting to identify the viruses responsible for the epidemic from samples obtained in Italy, France and England.