POLIOMYELITIS AT ASHBURTON

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 26944, 21 January 1953, Page 3

POLIOMYELITIS AT ASHBURTON

ONE POSITIVE AND TWO SUSPECTED CASES

Three persons suffering from suspected poliomyelitis have been admitted to the Ashburton Public Hospital in the last week. All three cases have occurred in the Ashburton borough, although it is probable that one. a visitor from Christchurch, had contracted the virus outside the borough. Two of the cases are males, a youth of 19 and a child of three years and a half, and the other is a girl of 10 years. The youth has been identified as a positive case. “The cases are isolated, and there is no cause for panic. The prevention of the disease lies in the observation of a few commonsense precautions,’’ said the borough inspector (Mr T. G. McPherson) yesterday. “Persons are advised not to mix with crowds, particularlv inside buildings, and it is desirable to mix only with those persons with whom one normally associates.’’

Mr McPherson said that persons mixing in small groups built up a resistance to certain types of virus circulating within those groups, but contact with a stranger could bring in another type of virus from which the persons in the group had no immunity. Personal cleanliness was also important.

“There is medical evidence to indicate that the disease organisms are passed in w’aste matter from the body, and consequently hand-washing should be strictly observed by all persons before eating. Each person should have his own hand towel.’’

The main symptoms of poliomyelitis were headaches, soreness of the limbs, stiffness of the back, vomiting, diarrhoea, or variations of these, said Mr McPherson. Any person having such symptoms should go to bed for rest and call a doctor immediately. It was possible to have a very slight attack of the disease, and persons feeling “off colour” should not take part in any strenuous activity. Swimmers were advised not to become chilled after a swim. Both these things could aggravate and develop the disease.