MEASLES IN CITY

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30171, 1 July 1963, Page 6

MEASLES IN CITY

Mild Epidemic

A mild epidemic of measles in Christehunch is indicated by reports by members of the research committee of the Canterbury faculty of the College of General Practitioners.

The five doctors who have so far made returns for the weeks ended June 16 and 23 report a total of 14 cases for each week. This compares with one case among seven doctors in the week ended June 9. nine among eight doctors in the previous week, and 17 among eight doctors tor the month of May.

Inquiries to various primary schools failed to reveal any school with a high incidence of the disease: the pattern was of a few cases at each school. Influenza, with or without earache, was reported to be prevalent at some schools, though not more so than usual for the season. The research committee’s few-weekly report for the period ended June 9 says that coryza (runny nose) was prevalent. in some cases with sinusitis and a troublesome cough. Otitis media (middle-ear infection) showed a rise of almost 100 per cent, from the previous four weeks, and tonsillitis a rise of over 50 per cent. Influenza and other viral infections were much the same as in the previous period, while staphylococcal infections and gastro-einteritis were both down by about 25 per cent.