EPIDEMIC PRECAUTIONS

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 20, 25 January 1937, Page 8

EPIDEMIC PRECAUTIONS

! (To the Editor.) , Sir, —The letter in Thursday's "Post" ■ written by Mr. John H. Howell, * on the subject of epidemics displays a > lack of knowledge of the subject of 1 infantile paralysis. Dealing with the ■ statistics, Mr. Howell concludes that • becnuse only eight deaths have occurred in the present epidemic the position is not so serious as in 1932 when there were nineteen deaths. It is really wonderful to receive the information that the severity of an epidemic is determined by the number of deaths. Presumably we could have five hundred thousand cases in one week, but if nobody died there would be no epidemic! What a wonderful piece of reasoning. Up to the present time the presence or absence of death has net even been considered as a factor in the matter of determining whether a state of epidemic existed or not. Mr. Howell extracts from the Year Book statistics for the whole of New Zealand for one year, and arranges the bare figures alongside of statistics of one spot for four weeks. Mr. Howell should know that before statistics may be compared, they must, like fractions, be brought to a common denominator. If this is done it will be very evident that an epidemic of infantile paralysis (not panic) does in fact exist. Further, in making the comparison there is another factor in the 1932 figures-to be taken into consideration: this factor is not specifically mentioned in the Year Book, but is nevertheless self-evident. I leave your correspondent to sort it out. It is doubtful whether the opinion expressed by Mr. Howell as being that of "the man in the street" is really so. Infantile paralysis has been through the country before this, quite apart from the average yearly > ; ases, and . nealry everyone has a friend or ac- ■ quaintance and, in some cases, a rela- : tive who has been smitten; the disaster ■ left behind is consequently'very well ' known. The cause of the disease and j the way to recognise it at the onset are not nearly so well known. It is a sad j fact that a very large number of infan- , tile paralysis cripples would not now , be cripples at all, and many others } would now be less severely handi- j capped if their trouble had been cor- j rectly diagnosed two or three days } earlier. Parents having children who show the slightest sign of what might ; be infantile paralysis are very wise in having such children examined prompt- < ly. The damage that can accrue from £ a few hours' delay cannot be repaired r j in a lifetime. The little ones cannot ' help themselves and it is our duty to 1 give them the utmost protection. It r is far better that thousands of child- t ren be examined needlessly Ifian that a single one should be permanently 1 ruined by neglect of simple precau- \ tions. i

Finally, may I remind Mr. Howell that the majority of New Zealahders : are worthy descendants of the best stock of the most level-headed nation , oh earth. We carry on the "old traditions," one of which is "unity"— always a sure preventive of panic. In the not very, distant past, New Zealand as a nation has several tinies demonstrated its ability to face calamity, with calmness, steadiness, and courage. The Health authorities have actcd with commendable foresight and with keen concern for the welfare of the people. , The plain statement of the truth of the situation and of the measures taken to meet it, so far from , creating an atmosphere of fear, have won the public Confidence. Great credit is due to the medical and nursing professions for the attention given, involving many men and women in long hours of work, especially in the stricken area. The people themselves have displayed admirable public spirit in obeying the instructions issued by l , authority, to whom we must always look for guidance when faced with problems we cannot handle ourselves. The fact that by the co-operation of all concerned the disease has been suppressed in such a short time'is ample justification for the action taken, and should cause the people to continue to obey cheerfully the dictation of the Health authorities until the danger is passed.—l am, etc., ' S. ; I ; ;