ENTERITIS DANGER

Greymouth Evening Star, 25 August 1945, Page 4

ENTERITIS DANGER

HEALTH MINISTER’S WARNING WELLINGTON, August 24. “Anyone suffering from gastro-en-teritis should consult a doctor so that a proper diagnosis may be made and correct treatment may be undertaken,” said the Minister of Health (Mr. Nordmeyer) to-day. “The disease is not without its dangers, and may be fatal, particularly in the case of young children and old people.” The Minister said that although there had been few notifications of dysentery in recent months, the Health Department had knowledge of a considerable amount of snteritis. The incidence appeared to have been particularly severe in institutions where large numbers of persons were necessarily in close contact. In many mental hospitals infection had been experienced by both patients and staff. In 15 cases in the Tokanui Mental Hospital, gastro-enteritis was the contributing cause of death. Ten were patients debilitated by old age; four others suffered from broncho-pneu-monia, and the remaining case was a patient suffering from general paralysis of the insane. The Minister said that the incidence appeared to be lessening, but because of the approach of the fly-breeding season the public should take all possible precautions. Cleanliness in handling food and the use of pasteurised milk where possible were advised. Efvery effort should be made to prevent breeding of flies. <,