INFANTILE PARALYSIS

Evening Star, Issue 25701, 26 January 1946, Page 6

INFANTILE PARALYSIS

ANOTHER POSITIVE CASE DISTRICT TOTAL HOW TWENTY One of three persons admitted yesterday to the isolation ward of the Public Hospital with suspected infantile paralysis has definitely contracted the disease, and a further possible victim was admitted to the institution last night. The total since the incidence, of the disease in this province early last November is now 20 oases. The imposition of the restrictions on the activities of children under tho age of 16 years by the Health Department had been fully justified, said the medical officer of health for Otago (Dr G. O. L. Dempster) to-day, and tho success of the measures that had been undertaken under section 76 of tho Health Act depended on the co-opera-tion of parents and those who came into contact with children liable to catch the disease. It was apparent from the.observations of the officers of the department that the assistance of the public in combating the spread of infantile paralysis by watching that children did not congregate had been a reflection on the serious manner in which infantile paralysis was regarded by responsible persons. Dr Dempster added that it was to be hoped that this attitude would be maintained. The restrictions have caused the abandonment of several athletic and other fixtures in this province and in Southland, where cases have also been reported.