RUNANGA ISOLATED

Greymouth Evening Star, 1 March 1920, Page 5

RUNANGA ISOLATE D

5 SEVfiRITYJP 'FLU n. A CASE EYEIIY TWO HOTTES. SEVEN REPORTED, YESTERDAY. STATE MINE*CLOSED. the position in regard to influenza in the Kunanga district has assumed such serious proportions as to render it imperative that immediate steps should be taken to isolate that locality, and as a matter of fact the reports are so alarming' that, it is understood, application has been made to the chief Health authorities for power to declare the district isolated until the ravages of the disease die down. There are at present approximately 150 Raises, and a number have been notified during the week. It is indeed fortunate that the majority of the cases are of a mild nature, but there have nevertheless been a few cases in which the more serious forms of the disease have been apparent. At present there are three cases of influenza of a bronchial nature in the Grey lliver Hospital from the Runanga district. Although none have been reported to the Health authorities, it is understood that, there are a number of cases of influenza in town.

An effort is being' made bv the Health Officer, Mr J. Fletcher, to prevent people from travelling to ami from Ih'vnanga unless they ran show a clean bill o:t health. He went to the township this morning armed with a bundle of certificates. The idea is that before a person is allowed to leave Runanga he or she must make a declaration that no one in the house in which they are staying has contracted the disease or that they have been convalescent for a stipulated number of days. This action has been taken in order to prevent the 'flu spreading into other districts. Greymouth, of course, would have been particularly affected if the proposed restriction was not carried into operation. The Secretary to the Public Health Department has forwarded to the District Henlth Officer a sample of a mask which, it is suggested, should h a used by nurses. It is a simple affair of gauze, pud covers the mouth and nostrils. There is a suggestion that a number of these should be secured. A "Greymouth Evening Star" reported interviewed Mr -T. Fletcher, Health officer, on his return from Runanga to-day and ascertained that the position in the district is even more serious than was at first thought. Seven fresh enses were notified vosterdav and five, so far, to-day. The Stnte Mine will be clo™d for the rest of the week on the instruction of the Heal+b Officer. The railway officials will refuse to issue tickets unless the passengers can produce the certificates referred to. A rond patrol has also been instituted. The miners are arranging that all roads to Runanga shall be guarded so that no one is allowed to pass unless on urgent business. The c°st of the rvatrol will be defrayed by the Hospital Board.

INTo fewer thou 125 men were oway from the Liverpool mine toda"«* suffering from influenza.

Tbo State oar lias been placed at the disposal of two nurses at present in Runanga, f"d the organisation generally is all that can he desired. As soon as the seriousness o" the position became apparent the organised themselves into n Vigilance Committee and, so far as is hnmanlv possible, everything is in readiness not onlv to attend to those at present. sick but to all future cases.

AT "OTHER REWANT7L Our Rewanui correspondent writes: "A lot of good, quiet, selfsacrificing work has been done in Upper Rewariui lately by some of the residents, who have been fortunate enough to have escaped the disease. These ladies and gentlemen have not had the privilege of seeing their names in the local newspapers, the same as other townships not far away, but their time and services have been there all the same, and the sufferers tht they have -visited,' tended and cared for, are unanimous in their thanks, I will say again for the population that is up; here. The few that have not had the complaint have been very good, working in the interests of families as well as individual cases. The last case taken down the hill in the pmbulance was Mr Benny Manderson, on Sunday. Nurse Braidwood, who was just arriving up, having walked the distance, gave some official directions, and went to her duties to attend Mrs McPJiee, who is in rather a serious condition. Special thanks are dire to, Mrs Bert Fisher, also Mr Geo. Elliot, a returned soldier, both haying attended to their individual duties of relieving the suffering. I'have been asked by a returned soldier that, seeing that Mr J. Lynch, the Mayor of Greymouth, is personally? taking a rot of interest' in this' affair, he might act ' ili a practical way by sending the help out that v is required and he would oblige i\s."

TWO_. GREYMOIJTH CASES. Two cases of the y ft\\ notified lii Greyinoiitli oh Safurday. Owing" to''tlie ■cpmmer'cisjft teacher now r -in charge-: living ai'liiinanga, the classes in ■ tlie subject at the Technical: School have tempbrar. ily been suspense!. ).'■