PARALYSIS EPIDEMIC

Evening Star, Issue 22627, 20 April 1937, Page 8

PARALYSIS EPIDEMIC

STATEMENT BY HEALTH DIRECTOR REASSURING ADVICE [Per United Press Association.] PALMERSTON NORTH, April 20. ' In an interview with the ‘ Standard s with reference to the paralysis epidemic, Dr Watt, Director-General of Health, stated that the position in Palmerston North was not regarded as serious, but co-operation by parents in keeping children -away from congregations of persons was desired by the department. “ Fortunately the paralysis is of a comparatively mild type,” said Dr Watt. Referring to the general situation, he said that, of the total number of cases notified, a certain number were suspects only, and subsequent investigation, ruled out the diagnosis of poliomyelitis or paralysis, while, of the true cases, a very considerable proportion had no paralysis whatever, in that they were not paralytic. Only a relatively small proportion were paralytic. . . c “ The major epidemic was in Dunedin,” he said, “ but some minor Outbreaks have occurred, particularly in Invercargill, South Canterbury, Hauraki Plains, and the Palmerston North area now seems to have come within the same category. But in all the localities the former measures taken for the closing Of schools, and the prohibition against children under 16 attending picture theatres, apparently had the desired effect, as the incidence of the disease has subsided.. “ The public, perhaps, fail to realise that infantile paralysis is a disease which is never entirely .absent from New Zealand. Cases are reported at regular intervals, and when conditions are most favourable for the disease, epidemics occur. The present epidemic is not to be compared in severity with those of 1915, 1916, 1925,. and 1926.. “ As infantile paralysis is almost invariably a disease of warm weather it is anticipated that, with the coming of the colder weather, it will subside. It is likely, however, that sporadic cases will continue to be reported for some time to come. . The action which has been taken is based upon the fact that children are the most susceptible age group, and the disease is spread by personal contact. Parents can safeguard the children to a large extent by. keeping them away from public gatherings ana by not allowing them to visit homes in which there is sickness. They may also take precautions in that, if any member of a household becomes sick, they treat that member as having an infectious disease, and isolate him or her from the other. members of the family nntil the nature of the complaint has been established by medical advice. “ Many apparently healthy people may act as carriers,” said Dr Watt, when he referred, to the fact that several cases now in Palmerston North Hospital come from areas where there is but a scattered population. “On that account it is most difficult, on occasions to establish a definite connection which will lead to a theory‘as to the appearance, of the disease in that particular district.” FOURTEEN IN HOSPITAL [Per United Press Association.] HAMILTON, April 20. Following the notification of further cases of paralysis, 35 schools in the Waikato area have been closed, and there is a possibility of the Hamilton schools following suit. Fourteen, case* have been sent to the hospital in. th» past fortnight: , Four were admitted yesterday, one being a man aged 25. YOUNG MAN'S DEATH [Per United Press Association.] CHRISTCHURCH, April .20. A death from infantile paralysis occurred in the Hospital last night, ih® victim being a man aged 23. 'Since, the epidemic began there have been two deaths in Christchurch.