INFLUENZA.

Greymouth Evening Star, 24 February 1920, Page 6

INFLUENZA.

ITS HISTORY.

(ByT.W.) .

A series of articles dealing with this question will he continued in the columns of this paper, being a memorandum on the prevention of influenza, issued by the Local Government Board of England and Wales, and which is considered extremely valuable in New Zealand at the present time. The Health Department takes the liberty of soliciting the assistance of the Te Kinga sub-centre of St. John Ambulance Association, and the press of this district, to give this subject full publicity in lecture form. Lectures on the subject will be delivered by Mr T. West in the country _ districts when convenient. The widespread nature of influenza in this country in June and July was followed after a short interval by _a second wave during October, November and December. The second epidemic more probably did not attack so many persons as the first, but it produced more severe illness and a higher mortality. The extent of this mortality is illustrated by the experience of 96 great towns (estimated total population 16,577,344) in England and Wales. From 12th October to December 28th, 1918, the deaths in the 96 great towns registered as due to influenza were 44,537 — i.e„ 2.69 per IOOD of the population. These figures do not include deaths from pneumonia, in which influenza was not also mentioned on the death certificate. Higher rates, over 400 per 1000, occurred during this period in some of these great towns. Young adults have been specially affected by this epidemic not only in this country, but also in France and America. The largest proportion of deaths has occurred in persons under forty-five years of age. Such deaths, it should be understood, are rarely to be attributed to influenza alone, which produces a short and sharp illness, but if unaccompanied by complications is usually soon recovered from: Severe and fatal cases are, as a rule, due to intercurrent or subsequent invasion by infection classed broadly as “catarrhal,” which the influenza attack has brought into special activity. The occurrence of pneumonia is one of the commonest effects of such an in-- - vasion, particularly in the autumn and in the spring. Infection passes rapidly through the community. In' any particular locality affected during the last wave of the epidemic the period during which the disease spread acutely and rapidly was usually some four or live weeks, being longer than this in large towns and shorter in small compact communities. In most parts of the country its zenith was reached in the week ending November 2nd. Any general recurrence of the 'flu, however, which takets place before or at the beginning of the spring is likely to be attended in many cases by catarrhal or pneumonic complications, with corresponding* , production of severe cases and a rise in the death rate. Research into the cause of influenza, into its spread in epidemic form, into its pathology, and into its remedy, as during the last six months are being energetically pursued bv many workers of our own and other countries. Steps have been taken by the Health Department to keep as fully informed as possible of its general results. Such investigation, however keenly pursued, and however many the workers, requires time and patience if trustworthy results are to be obtained. As yet, we do not know the nature of the living* virus to which influenza is due. The laboratory has not yet given us a specific form of treatment of influenza or of the protection against it. At present, the fact must be accepted that in a period of world-wide prevalence such as at present most members of the public who go about their ordinary vocations must expect to be exposed to infection, and many to have the illness in some form or

other, all scientific investigations notwithstanding*. Nevertheless, it is the duty of the individual not only to do the best for himself in case of attack, hut, as much depends on the intensify and dose of the infection, do his best.also to protect others. It is likewise the duty of the public health authorities_ to take any practicable steps during* a wave of the epidemic to lessen the risks of infection, to assist in the treatment of individual cases, and to help fp mitigate the hardships which so often result when several members of the household are simultaneously attacked. In these circumstances it may be convenient here, firstly, to re-state for public information, some of the principal known facts regarding influenza, and, ’secondly,'to review some of the knowledge which has been gained by local authorities in their attempts to deal with outbreaks. The fol-

lowing observations on the subject are largely based on previously issued public statements, including the memorandum issued by the Board last year. The present epidemic is virtually worldwide, irrespective of race, community or calling*. Similar worldwide epidemics occurred in 1803, 1833, 1837, 1847, and 1890. This outbreak is essentially identical, both in itself and . its complications, including pneumonia, with that of 1890. Although there can be no question that the virus of influenza is a living* organism, and capable of transference from man to man, yet the nature of the virus is still uncertain. It is possible beyond the range of the microscopic vision. The bacillus discovered by Pfeiffer, commonly known as the influenza bacillus, is not, on present evidence, to be regarded as the essential organism of influenza. This bacillus, as also in pneumococci, streptococci, meningococci, can, however, be regarded as an important secondary or coincident infecting agent, and in any case seems to be responsible for most of the fatal complications of influenza. (To be continued.)