FLU EPIDEMIC.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 266, 10 November 1939, Page 3

FLU EPIDEMIC.

SOLDIERS AT BURNHAM. OVER 160 HOSPITAL CASES. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) OHRrSTCHURCH, Thursday. Over KM) influenza cases from the Burnham military camp are being treated in the Christchurch or Bottle Lake Hospitals. To allay anxiety a statement has heen made .by Mr. L. B. Evans, chairman of the Hospital Board, and Sir Hu;»h Acland, chairman of the Hospital Committee. "The influenza epidemic in the Burnham camp is fortunately of a mild character," says the statement, "but a large number of men has been affeeted. The camp hospital has been able to deal with a number of trivial cases, but those where the illness is such as to render a longer period of treatment necessary the patients are 'being transferred to Christchurch. "There will be to-night in the Christchurch Hospital 81 soldier patients and a similar number in the Bottle Lake Hospital, the latter being patients suffering from a milder form of the disease. As requested by the Department of Health, 50 beds for soldier patients have been established in the old military block at the Christchurch Hospital, but this accommodation has proved quite inadequate to meet the position. "In only two cases have there been any serious symptoms, and no deaths have taken place," continues the statement. "It is hoped that the majority of the patients will be discharged within a week to ten days. The men will be fit to return to duty in a short time. FEWER SUFFERERS. INFLUENZA AT CAMP. (By Telegraph—Own Correspondent.) HAMILTON, this day. Although the incidence of influenza at the Hopuhopu camp has materially subsided there are still 85 soldiers in the Waikato Hospital; 18 have been admitted in the last two days and 23 discharged during this period. Since the camp has -been located at Hopuhopu 214 soldiers have been admitted to the Waikato Hospital.