Flu may be Russian
J PA Wellington The virus which attacked nearly 200 Waiouru people last week has still not been isolated but Health Department officials say it was probably the first outbreak :of the Russian influenza I strain. The deputy Director of [the Public Health Division (Dr R. Campbell Begg) said yesterday that no isolation had been achieved by the National Health Institute. "But we think it most ; likely it is the new Russian j strain,” he said. This would make the cases the first of the new flu strain which had come to the department’s attention. I The Russian flu was first identified during the last Northern Hemisphere winter and health officials in New Zealand have awaited ' its arrival in New Zealand since March. It affects particularly those under 20. Vaccine’s against the strain have been available for several months. The chief Medical Officer of Health in Christchurch (Dr L. F. Jepson) said on Thursday that no cases of the Russian flu strain had been reported in Christchurch.
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Press, 14 August 1978, Page 13
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170Flu may be Russian Press, 14 August 1978, Page 13
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