INFECTIOUS DISEASES

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3143, 23 July 1917, Page 4

INFECTIOUS DISEASES

EPIDEMIC IN SOUTH TAEANAKI. (By Telesraph-SDCcial Correspondent.) Hawera, July 22. South Taranaki is at present visited by a sorious epidemic of infectious diseases. At a meeting of the Hawera Hospital Board it was stated that. 17 cases had been investigated, there being sixteen cases of diphtheria in the borough alone. Of theso ono had died and ten were removed to hospitalNine cases of diphtheria were reported in Hawera and two in tho county, whilst at Eltham there were four cases of scarlet fever and thiree cases of diphtheria. Soveral cases in Normanby were also reported. It was considered that there must be some local cause for the prevalence of diphtheria about Hawera and for the epidemic of infantile paxalysifl last year, Hawera having tho Mtli largest number of oases the cities and towns of the North Island. The chairman considered that much or tho present trouble was due to the carelessness of people themselves, and in. cases of gross neglect to comply with the rctiuircmouts of the Inspector and ot the Act prosecutions should be instituted. The Hospital Medical Superintendent remarked that the present epidemic was exceptional, just as was the wave of. infantile paralysis last year It was decided to communicate with all locaL bodies in the district concerned, with a view to taking effective measures, and the question of providing special accommodation for the treatment of cases was held over for the present.