DUNEDIN FAMILY SENT HOME

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21975, 26 December 1936, Page 12

DUNEDIN FAMILY SENT HOME

• —♦ — Case Diagnosed At Ximaru BABY WITH INFANTILE PARALYSIS [THE PRESS Special Service.] TIMARU, December 25. A Dunedin family which arrived at Timaru yesterday was ordered to return home immediately when one of 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. Watkinson, who immediately ordered the family to return south. Two hours later they were on their way. Two more sports meetings to have been hold in South Canterbury tomorrow have been postponed, but the South Canterbury Caledonian Society’s meeting on New Year’s Day will be held. CITY STILL FREE FEW CHILDREN ABOUT THE STREETS FURTHER OFFICIAL ADVICE GIVEN Christchurch is still free from the infantile paralysis epidemic, no cases having yet been reported, but with yesterday’s rise in temperature, further advice has been given to the public by the health authorities. The Medical Officer of Health for the Can-tcrbury-Westland district, Dr. T. Fletcher Telford, said last evening that he was very gratified by the manner in which parents look the requested precautions during Christmas Eve. The number of children about the streets ho said, was almost negligible, showing that parents realised that they must be kept away from the crowds. Although yesterday would normally have attracted large numbers to the beaches, few children were about, the parents evidently having decided that the precaution of preventing them from mingling with others should be closely observed. The recent cool temperatures, the health authorities say, tended to restrict the spread of infection, which might be much more rapid in warmer weather. The rise from a maximum of 61.1 degrees on Wednesday to a maximum of 74.7 degrees yesterday therefore, would necessitate the exercising of every precaution. Much of the knowledge of the disease supports the opinion that the disseaso in both mild and severe forms is directly transmissible from person to person, says a bulletin issued by the Health Department. Furthermore, a healthy carrier, a person who has been in contact with a case or another carrier, can carry the virus in the mucus membrane of the nose or throat without suffering any symptoms. Such a carrier, even if the infection carried comes from a mild case, may produce an attack of severe type if the infection is conveyed to a sufficiently susceptible person. The disease in its beginning often resembles other diseases of childhood, so that medical advice should be sought on even the mildest sickness. A child, perfectly well, becomes restless, drowsy, irritable, and feverish, and does not want to be moved. There may bo headaches or pains in the muscles, a transient flushing of the face, abnormal sweating, or retention of urine. The initial illness may be apparently slight Uhd trivial, its true nature being shown by the onset of paralysis a few days later. In listing its precautions the department again emphasises that children must be kept away from crov/ds. They should not be allowed to become overfatigued, or to play for long periods in hot sunshine, the head and back ot the neck being protected by a shady hat at all times. Plenty of sleep in well ventilated bedrooms and simple diet are essential, and the children’s bowels must be regular. The younger children should have a sleep after the midday meal. The use of common property such as towels and handkerchiefs should be avoided and the promiscuous kissing of children should be banned. “No personal precaution can be too great to prevent the spread to others,” the bulletin concludes. AT DUNEDIN NO ADMISSIONS YESTERDAY TO HOSPITAL (PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) 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 authorities met with trouble from persons travelling with children. SUMMER SCHOOL EXCLUSION OF SOUTHERN TEACHERS (press association telegram.) • WELLINGTON, December 24. Teachers from Otago and Southland are to be excluded from 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. R. 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 o£ the Dominion were expected to eta

tend the school, Mr Ashbridge said, but it had been decided to exclude Otago and Southland teachers. He was endeavouring to get into touch with Professor H. Hollinrake (Auckland), president of the Summer School Society, and there was a likelihood of the school being abandoned. BABY UNDER OBSERVATION (PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) WELLINGTON, December 24. A baby, aged 20 months, was placed under observation ill the Wellington Hospital yesterday afternoon. The District Health Officer (Dr. Maclean) said that the Dunedin boy who was admitted to the hospital on Sunday was doing well, and so far there was no sign of paralysis. It Is doubtful whether the infant taken has infantile paralysis, but the authorities are taking every precaution. BOY PLACED IN QUARANTINE AT AUCKLAND (PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) AUCKLAND, December 24. A boy, 13 years of age, who arrived by train from Dunedin this morning, 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. NO FURTHER DEVELOPMENT IN AUCKLAND (PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) AUCKLAND, December 25. Auckland is still free from any sign of infantile paralysis. Discussing the position to-night the medical officer for health (Dr. P. J. Hughes) said that there had been no further development in the city or suburbs. The boy who arrived from Dunedin on Thursday remains detained in the hospital and will have to spend a week there before release. So far he is perfectly well and shows no symptoms to arouse alarm. CELEBRATIONS POSTPONED (PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) GORE, December 25. The centenary celebrations commemorating the last clash between the North Island and South Island Maoris at Tuturau, which were to have been held on January 23 and 24, have been postponed sine die, as a precaution against the outbreak of infantile paralysis. MORE THAN £IOOO REFUNDED BY RAILWAYS (PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) DUNEDIN, December 24. Generally speaking, the bah oh children travelling operates anywhere outside a 20-mile radius. The epidemic has seriously affected the railways. The revenue for the week is £750 below that for the same week last year, and in the last two days more than £IOOO has been refunded to people cancelling holiday trips.