INFANTILE PARALYSIS

Evening Star, Issue 20980, 19 December 1931, Page 3

INFANTILE PARALYSIS

THE AUSTRALIAN OUTBREAKS DOMINION HEALTH DEPARTMENT ALERT [Per United Press Association.] WELLINGTON, December 18. Two days ago a caulegrain appeared in tho Dross stating that the spread of infantile paralysis (poliomyelitis) was causing concern in Sydney and that the number of cases there had trebled in a few weeks. On this message being brought to tho notice of the Minister of Health (iMr J. A. Young), he stated that all steps possible were being taken to prevent the introduction of this disease into Now Zealand. Information received from Australia had shown that in tho early part of this year there was a fairly extensive outbreak of poliomyelitis in (Melbourne, and at that time Sydney was scarcely affected by it. The department was of opinion that tho present outbreak in Sydney probably had no connection with, the Melbourne epidemic, the lapse of time having been too great. It was more than likely they were independent outbreaks. “ Fortunately,” the Minister said, “ New Zealand at the present time is relatively free from infantile paralysis, and the fact that an outbreak has occurred in Australia does not necessarily moan that tho epidemic will spread to this country. The department points out that it is impossible to bo dogmatic in regard to a disease of this nature. However, every possible step is being, and will continue to be taken, to safeguard New Zealand from the introduction of tho disease.” Mr Young pointed out that tho New Zealand Department of Health received through tho High Commissioner weekly epidemiological reports; from the English Ministry of Health and from the eastern bureau of the League of Nations at Singapore. These reports gave up-to-date information regarding the prevalence of epidemic diseases throughout tho world. Another particularly valuable source of information was available as the result of a Pan-Pacific health conference held in Melbourne in 192 G. An arrangement was then made under which Melbourne became a clearing house for epidemic information respecting the countries and islands of tho Western and Southern Pacific. In this way New Zealand was kept particularly well informed as to tho diseases prevalent throughout tho world, and particularly in the Southern Pacific.