DIPHTHERIA.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 173, 24 July 1930, Page 8

DIPHTHERIA.

FEW CASES, AMONG CHILDREN

NO CAUSE FOR ALARM.

PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES,

Although there have been one or two cases of diphtheria among the children attending the Point Chevalier Public School, rumours of an epidemic are without foundation, and there is absolutely no occasion for parents to be alarmed, according to Dr. T.. J. Hughes, Medical Officer of Health. During the past fortnight, said Dr. Hughes, there have been two cases of the disease among the children, while one of the lady teachers is also affected. Dr. Hughes visited the school yesterday and examined all the children. One child was found to be suffering from the disease, while swabs showed that several others were possible carriers. These children were sent home, and will not be allowed to return to the school until swabbings have shown three negative results. The isolating of the possible carrier cases, said Dr. Hughes, was a precautionary measure. It was reported last week that three cases of diphtheria had occurred among the children at the school, at Drury. Since then no further cases have been notified. Twenty-six cases of diphtheria in the Auckland health district have been notified this month to date, as compared with 11 for the whole of last month. 'Although these figures show an increase, it is not alarming, as July and August are the months in which the disease is always most prevalent, while the total for June last was the lowest for ten or twelve years," said Dr. Hughes.