MENINGITIS CASES

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 287, 1 September 1941, Page 6

MENINGITIS CASES

Eleven In Auckland Hospital THREE RECENT DEATHS (By Telegraph—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, August 31. Three people have died from cerebral spinal meningitis during the past few days and there are at present 11 sufferers from the disease in Auckland hospital. All the victims are from the city and suburbs up to a nine-mlle radius, but excluding North Shore. Notifications of the disease have been made at the rate of one a day for the past week, according to a statement by Dr. T. J. Hughes, medical officer of health at Auckland. Because of the danger of spreading the disease, Auckland hospital was closed to visitors for an indefinite period from today on the of the hospital board chairman, Mr. Allan J. Moody. Two of the deaths have occurred at the hospital. A boy of about seven years who became ill on- Saturday died at his home that night. His mother had earlier been admitted to hospital suffering from the disease. All the cases taken to hospital have been diagnosed as definitely suffering from meningitis. The sufferers range In age from infants to adults of over 50 years and include persons of bpth sexes. Two are soldiers who contracted the disease while on leave. z Some of the patients are in a serious condition, but the acting-medical superintendent of the hospital, Dr. W. Gilmour, said most were responding well to treatment with the comparatively new drug “693.” The’ protection of both patients and public was the reason for closing the hospital to visitors, said Dr. Gilmour. “If the weather takes up we should expect an improvement iu the position,” Dr. Hughes said.