MANY MILD CASES

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 21988, 12 January 1937, Page 10

MANY MILD CASES

POLIOMYELITIS IN

OTAGO

DR. MCKIBBIN EXPLAINS

“REASONS FOR KEEPING

CHILDREN AT HOME”

[TXIE PEESS Special Sendee.]

DUNEDIN, January 11

Advice received in Dunedin to-day from a private source that posters were being displayed in the streets of Christchurch, placing an entirely erroneous emphasis on the statement made by Dr. T.'McKibbin on Sunday that in addition to the 121 notified cases of infantile paralysis in Otago province, private medical practitioners had visited approximately 1000 more mildly infected children, who had quickly recovered. When the matter was referred to Dr. McKibbin to-night he stated that he had deemed it advisable to mention the fact that there had been a number of trivial cases which were a feature of all epidemics. In these mild cases of poliomyelitis the germ of the disease was present in the blood, but did not attack the spinal cord. Moreover, he stated that there was no country in the world in which such patients would be listed as cases of infantile paralysis. He had mentioned their existence to give a true indication of the nature of the epidemic, and the way in which it was spread, and of the reasons for keeping children at home. The spread of the disease through cases of this type had always been commented upon in medical reports on previous epidemics, but it was recognised, that they could not be considered as coming within the same category as notifiable cases.

THIRD CASE IN I SOUTHLAND

CONTACT WITH DUNEDIN RESIDENTS I —— ■ (PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) INVERCARGILL, January 11. A boy, eight years of age, residing at Lumsden, has been admitted to the Southland Hospital suffering from infantile paralysis. This is the third positive case, reported in Southland during the present epidemic. The first case, that of a young man from Riversdale, ended fatally, and a boy from Wendonside is now a patient in the Gore Hospital. The medical superintendent of' the Southland Hospital, Dr. L; C. McNickle, said that the patient from Lumsden was suffering from a mild degree of paralysis. It is understood that visitors from Dunedin stayed recently at the patient’s home. Till this evening no cases, definite or guspect, had been reported in the city.

\ VISITING BANDSMEN

AVOIDED

DIFFICULTY IN OBTAINING

A MEAL

riHIS PEESS Special Service.]

TIMARU, January 11,

Residents of Timaru visiting Christchurch have noticed that, from fear of infantile paralysis, friends have not wished to be called upon by them, and the Timaru * Municipal Band, which gave a programme of music from 3YA on Sunday evening was given an unpleasant reminder that Timaru people at the present time are people to be avoided.

In the past it has been the custom of the band when visiting Christchurch to have a meal at a restaurant in the city, but, in answer to enquiries made early last week about his ability to, give the usual service, the proprietoryinformed the band that he would be unable to do so. Similar refusals were forthcoming from other caterers. Later the band was informed that the proprietor had obtained permission from the health authorities to provide meals for the bandsmen after the other customers had left the place, which meant that the visitors would have to wait from' 5.30 p.m., the time of their arrival in Christchurch, until 7.15 before being accommodated. The bandsmen before setting out on the trip by bus took the precaution of providing themselves with supplies of sandwiches and other food.

NO NEW CASES AT DUNEDIN <

(PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.)

DUNEDIN, January 11,

Since Friday, when one young man whose death subsequently occurred and two children were admitted to Dunedin Hospital, there have been no further cases of infantile paralysis admitted for observation or for treatmeat.

THREE DEFINITE CASES AT AUCKLAND

JTWO YOUNG MEN IN HOSPITAL

(PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.)

AUCKLAND. January 11,

There are now three positive infantile paralysis cases in Auckland as follows:

A young girl, who was admitted 12 days ago, is progressing favourably. A young man from a suburban farm, who was taken to hospital on Thursday as a,mild case; and A young man, who was brought from a country district on Friday night. He is a mild case. A boy who was admitted as a suspected case on Saturday has been found not to be a paralysis case.

1 POSITIVE CASE IN NORTH

AUCKLAND

(PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.)

WHANGAREI, January 11. A suspected case of infantile paralysis at Kawakawa Hospital proved negative.

j Another case, that of a baby boy who came from Opononi a week ago, has been definitely diagnosed as paralysis. but it is not serious. The patient is isolated at the Public Works camp at Kawakawa, and preparations • are being made for his removal to the Eawene Hospital.

“ NO CAUSE FOR ALARM”

Movements of Children

In City

SATISFACTORY CONTROL

BY PARENTS

“The last few weeks have .shown that Christchurch parents are, exercising a very satisfactory measure of control over their children during the present epidemic,” said Dr. T. Fletcher Telford, Medical Officer of Health for the Canterbury-Westland district yesterday, in commenting on the observance of precautions in the city against possible infection with infantile paralysis. No further cases were notified in this district yesterday, but Dr. Telford said the public was urged to maintain all precautions with the same vigilance as in the last few weeks. It was apparent, however, that parents were greatly restricting the movements of their children in the city md in public places, and it was evident that the majority of adults were fully conscious of their duty in this respect. Commenting on the prevalence of cases of paralysis during an epidemic, Dr. Telford said there was no cause for any undue alarm. In a recent investigation of statistics of communicable diseases, the results of which were reported to a conference of health authorities in Washington, it was shown that sporadic cases of poliomyelitis were likely to occur at any time. The majority of cases, however, occurred in epidemics of varying severity, but it was not often that more than two cases a thousand of population occurred in an epidemic. “Our immediate concern now is the movements of children returning from their holidays, and a close watch is being kept by the department in this connexion.” Dr. Telford added. “There is no restriction on adults travelling from Dunedin, but children under 16 years are subject to quarantine, and they must remain at home for 14 days. Parents accompanying these children are asked to use their common sense, and not frequent places of public entertainment until the period of quarantine is over. With the cooperation of the Christchurch City Council and other local bodies, the department has a staff of 12 inspectors at its disposal, and careful supervision will be maintained.”