DIPHTHERIA

Greymouth Evening Star, 28 June 1921, Page 3

DIPHTHERIA

POSITION IN GREYMOUTH. NO CAUSE FOR ANXIETY. Enquries made by a “Star” representative showed that there is no more than the normal amount of diphtheria in town; there are only three cases in the Grey River Hospital, and they are progressing favourably. Dr Owen-Johnston stated there had been no increase in the number of cases as compared with the same period last year. There was usually a certain amount of diphtheria encountered during the winter. A reassuring statement was made by Mr A. W. Nicol (Inspector of Health), when questioned. “There is absolutely no reason for anxiety so far as Greymouth is concerned,” he said, “i

last case which occurred went into the Hospital on June 14, just a fortnight ago. The period of incubation is generally accepted as seven days. Only four cases have been notified in Greymouth. Three came from the same class in the Blaketown School, and they all occurred practicaly in the incubation period. The fourth case, which occurred in the Borough of Greymouth, had been playing with one of the other children during the incubation period.” A note of warning was sounded by the Inspector, however, who stated that a sharp lonlr-oiif, should be ke.nt for children suffer-

ing from discharging ears. Parents should prevent such children from going to school until the complaint is investigated, aim school teachers ought to see that such children did not attend. A large number of children in Christchurch had been found to be- suffering from diphtheritic discharge. Householders should also note the fact that it was compulsory to notify cases of diphtheria. It was generally recognised that a. doctor's notification was sufficient, but if a doctor failed to do so the householder was still responsible for the notification. “I do not intend to make the slightest reflection on the doctors,” said \h* X ‘‘ nm 11 cn tno 1 ” fl ro vorv ernnri •

* '‘J ‘“'J • j j but a doctor is a very busy man, and might possibly overlook the notification.” With a view to illustrating how difficult a matter it is to deal with diphtheria, the Inspector stated that during an epidemic in a South Island town, a boy contact with a diphtheria case was found to be a “carrier.” He was immediately placed in isolation at home, the doctor attending, and at the end of live weeks a negative “swab” was obtained. Under the conditions laid down, it was necessary to obtain a second negative “swab” before the boy could be released. When the “swab” was being taken, the doctor remarked the boy’s throat was so clear that he felt sure the “swab” would be a negative. The following morning, however, the doctor was sent for as the boy had developed a sore throat. It was found that he had contracted diphtheria, and he was sent to hospital. But the boy had been absolutely well during the five weeks he had been a carrier.