PARALYSIS PATIENTS

Greymouth Evening Star, 19 December 1936, Page 7

PARALYSIS PATIENTS

SUSPECT AT CHRISTCHURCH COAST VISIT CANCELLED [FEB PBESS ASSOCIATION.] CHRISTCHURCH, December 18. Although there has been no definite diagnosis of infantile paralysis, a child was admitted to the Christchurch Public Hospital yesterday as a suspected case of the disease, according to a statement by the Medical Officer of Health for the Canterbury and Westland districts (Dr. T. Fletcher Telford). The child, a girl, aged eight, has been admitted to the hospital so that she can be kept under observation. No other notifications were made yesterday of cases or suspected cases of infantile paralysis in the Canterbury or Westland districts. Dr. Telford emphasised the necessity for continued precautionary measures. He urged that businesses should do all they could to help in avoiding assemblies of children. Parents whose children were to participate in the West Coast excursion at the invitation of the Waimangaroa School have been advised by Mr. E. H. Marriner that the excursion has been cancelled under instructions from the- Health Department. All scout camps in the district have been abandoned, and camps of cadets of the St. John Ambulance Brigade. The services of the ambulance brigade have been offered to the Health Department in the event of an outbreak. Dr. Telford said that he had'not yet received any instructions from Wellington along the lines indicated by the society. AT DUNEDIN DUNEDIN, December IS. No positive cases of infantile paralysis were admitted to the Dunedin Hospital to-day, although four children were received for observation during the afternoon. These latest admissions bring the total number of cases, both positive and suspected, since the outbreak of the disease to 43, of whom 17 are paralysed. Eight or nine are showing definite symptons of the disease, and the rest are under observation. METHVEN OPPOSE CAMP. ASHBURTON, December 18. Meth ven residents are alarmed, in view of the paralysis menace, at the holding of a camp in the vicinity by members of the Coneyite religious sect from all parts of the Dominion, 260 people being already assembled and the numbers are increasing daily. The County Inspector found 50 to 60 under 21 y§ars of age, and many children in arms. It is proposed that the camp shall continue for some time. The Inspector communicated with the Health Officer who will place the matter before the Minister. HOLDING OF CAMPS. WELLINGTON, December 18; Dr. H. M. Watts, in a statement released at Wellington by the Minister of Health (Hon. P. Fraser), says in his reply to Dr. Craven that there is also the possibility that adults w'ho are wholly immune to poliomyelitis may yet be carriers and introduce the disease into camps. Poliomyelitis is ]>re-eminently a disease of children, and health camps, therefore, would make a particularly favourable soil for the spread of the disease if the virus were once introduced. Altogether the Department, cannot agree with Dr. Craven, but. the public can be sure that permission will be given to hold camps as soon as it is regarded as safe to do so.

PICTURES PROHIBITION WELLINGTON, December 18. As a preventive measure against the spread of infantile paralysis, the Motion .Pictures Exhibitors’ Association (New Zealand), representing 90 per cent, of the exhibitors in the Dominion, .after a conference at Wellington with the Director-General of Health (Dr. M. H. Watt), decided to recommend to members that all children under the age of 12 years be prohibited from attendance at picture theatres. The secretary of the association, Mr. J. Robertson, M.P., said to-day that the prohibition was voluntary, but he had no doubt that all exhibitors would fall into line without delay. SOUTHLAND CRITICISMS INVERCARGILL, December 18. Steps taken to prevent an outbreak of infantile paralysis in Invercargill were strongly criticised at the monthly meeting of the Southland Education Board to-day. “The schools are always the target,’’ said Mr. F. G. Stevenson. “Why were the schools closed and the children left free to attend picture theatres?” It was finally decided that it be a recommendation to the Health Department that steps be taken to prevent children under 15 years of age from attending indoor amusements. The discussion arose when the early closing of schools was brought before the Board. Mr. Stevenson said ‘that a telegram received from the Education Department last Monday had mentioned the desirability of impressing upon parents the necessity of keeping their children as much in the open air as possible. “Parents should be more than impressed with that need,” he said. “They should be forced to recognise it. What is the use of closing the schools if the picture shows are to be left open to the children?”

Mr. W. Bell: Yes. There is far more danger now for children than when the schools were .open. Mr. J. Hargest, M.P.: Why not recommend parents to keep their children in the open air? The secretary: That has been done. Mr. Stevenson: I should think that the Health Department has power to keep children .away from picture shows.

PREVIOUS EPIDEMICS. Waves of infantile paralysis have swept over New Zealand from time to time, causing many deaths anti maiming hundreds who survived. The first epidemic in February, 1914, started in Wellington. No accurate record of cases or of deaths was kept, at that time, but the epidemic was fairly severe. In January, 1916, there was another widespread outbreak, cases being re-

ported. simultaneously from Wellington, New Plymouth and Dannevirke. The disease spread along the lines of communication and reached Auckland, where it attained its maximum severity. In all, 1018 cases were reported, and there were 123 deaths. This epidemic was confined chiefly to the North Island, due to the immunising effect ip the South Island of the 1914 outbreak. The next wave of infection of a minor nature occurred in 1921, mainlv in tho South Island. Of the 267 cases reported, nine ended fatally. The most disastrous outbreak occurred' in November, 1924, and continued till April of the following year. Cases were first reported from Petone, and the disease spread rapidly to Wellington and other parts of the Dominion. Tho authorities were notified of 1257 cases, and there were 166 deaths., In 1932, another epidemic occurred, mainly in Canterbury and Otago. Of the 148 cases recorded, 103 were in tho South Island. There were 19 deaths, only two being in the North Island. The average death rate from 1914 to 1933 was 11.9 per cent., hut this figure varied considerably in individual years.