THE 'FLU RACING

Greymouth Evening Star, 2 March 1920, Page 5

THE 'FLU RACING

POSIIION AT RUNAfiG l

CONTACTS IN GREYMOUTH.

THREE CASES THE RESULT

ALARMING REPORTS

NO ABATEMENT OF DISEASE

The seriousness of the position in regard to influenza at Runanga cannot be overestimated. There is no sign of abatement according to Dr. Cotter, and another patient suffering from complications as the result of the ‘flu was admitted to the Grey River Hospital last evening. This makes a total 'of four admitted durin<r the week. One marked feature of the outbreak, however, is the fact that the proportion of serious cases is very low and the majority have contracted the disease in a mild form.

A Grey mouth Evening Star reporter to-day ascertained from the Health Officer, Mr. J. Fletcher, that owing directly to contacts coming from Kunanga to Greymouth three cases of influenza hare occurred in this town since yesterday, making six in all which have been notified. “The danger,’’ said Mr. Fletcher, “lies in people visiting cases at Kunanga and then spreading the disease when they returned to Greymoivui. This is what has actually happened in the -cases to which I refer. Of course,' these contacts came into Greymouth before the ivgu'ations against travelling between the two places came into operation.” Mr. Fletcher said that the regulations were being strictly enforced and cited as an instance, the fact that a man who had come to Greymoi;fh before the decision to issue certificates of health was made, could not get back to the mining township, He appealed to the Health Officer for a permit which was granted. It was reported to Mr. Fletcher that the man who was on patrol duty at the railway station at Kunanga has been subjected to a considerable amount of abuse from a thoughtless number of men. though only doing lus duty. It appeared that two men one of whom lives at Cobden, and tile other in Greymouth went to the railway station preparatory to catching the train for Greymouth. They were civillv asked by the patrol for theirpermits showing that they had a; clean hill of health and insolently answered that they would travel to and from Greymouth when and how they liked. This utter lack o? even common sense is.to be deprecated and Mr. Fletcher said that he know the names of the men whose unwarrantable conduct was complained of and that if such an occurrence ws reported again the names would be given for publication in the newspapers.

Enquiries at the hospital to-day elicited the information that the patients suffering from the-.effects of influenza were progressing as favourably as could hd expected. The Runanga Henhh Committee met last night to consider reports in connection with the epidemic. The reports showed that the influenza was raging fiercely while nothing so far pointed to the anticipated desire ot abatement. Each dav the scourge was claiming mord victims. Dr. Cotter spoke of the assistance so generously offered by trained nurses and ambulance men throughout the district. With the present arrangements stringently carried out ho was of the opinion that the position could he coped with. People were earnestly requested against congregating and advised,to keep in the open air as much as possible, TRAIN SERVICE ALTERED. On account of the influenza epu»> mic the ordinary timetable on the Rewanui branch will be cancelled as from to-day, until further notice. A special train for Rewanui will leave at 11.20 a.m. and will return from Rewanui at 1.15 p.m. Passengers will not be permitted to travel to and from the Rewanui branch unless they are in possession of certificates from the Health Department authorising them to travel. ELUDING THE PATROLS. Our Runanga correspondent stated at a late hour this afterthat the position retrained unchanged. Since Friday no fewer than thirty-eight cases of influenza have occurred, and yesterday’s total -was eight. There are several serious cases as stated, hut the great majority are not. The Rimanga citizens are doing their very best to prevent the disease from spreading to Greymouth, and their splendid efforts in this direction are to he highly commended. Despite the utmost vigilance of the patrols a few men from Rewanni and Runanga have managed to elude the watchers and have travelled to Oreymouth. One case is recorded where it is alleged that a certain person who was suspected of having visited people who had contracted the disease managed to get past the patrols at the railway station at Runanga. The Health Officer was promptly rung up in regard to the matter, and the individual I ’n question had to submit to a bath in which there was an ample quantity of disinfectant on arrival in the town. If anyone- is allowed to travel between-Rnnanga and Greymoutl] i+ is certainly not the fault of the ’ Vigilance Committee and the ; patrols, for in fine weather or hat , these energetic workers are carryI ing out their duties in a mannei ■ worthy of the best traditions o: Runanga. Information ascertained lab . this afternoon by a “Greymoutl d Evening Star” reporter state ! * that three men employed by th ;*• Railway Department have con tracted influenza, and were at p sent from duty to-day. A t- ■