INFLUENZA

Grey River Argus, 24 July 1923, Page 6

INFLUENZA

COMMITTEE SET UP. EPIDEMIC ON THE WANE. A meeting consisting of members of the Grey Hospital Board, the District Health Officer, and several public men was held yesterday afternoon, to consider the advisability of setting up a Committee to deal with the influenza epidemic if it should increase. Dr Phillips, tho visiting Health Officer from Canterbury, gave it as his opinion that the outbreak would die away if the present fine weather conditions continued. A small committee was set up, and arrangements are to be made to have tho old Technical School turned into an auxiliary hospital, should the outbreak become serious. When spoken to last night both of Greymouth’s doctors were of opinion that the ’flu was on the wane, though one thought there would be in the vicinity of 500 eases in Groymouth. 4 * There are throe cases of pneumonia in the Hospital,” said one doctor, ‘‘but they are not of tho influenza typo. Every year there are cases of pneumonia but they arc invariably the ordinary winter disease. Influenza pneumonia is quite distinct from the ordinary type of pneumonia, is much loss treatable, and much more virulent. I think that at least 25 per cent of the public have had influenza but they are nearly all recovered.” A great number of people had colds, which wore influenzal, but not of a serious nature, continued the doctor. In his case, tho number of cases was dropping off. One doctor said that yes terday the number of cases attended by him had increased, but there were no serious cases, all being of a mild type. PNEUMONIC CASES AT AUCKLAND AUCKLAND, July 23. Two deaths from pneumonic influenza have occurred in the suburbs during tho week-end. Eight, notifications have been reeeivFed in this health district for the week ’ end, making tho month’s total 32. SERIOUS TIMARU POSITION. EIGHT PNEUMONIC CASES. TIMARU, July 23. A public meeting, called by the Mayor, was held this afternoon for the purpose of considering steps to deal with a possible influenza epidemic. The District Health Inspector reported that eight pneumonic influenza cases had been notified this month, and two deaths. The whole question of an organisation system, on the lines of that employed during the last epidemic, was discussed, and an executive was appointed to have all the details in readiness for inauguration at the shortest notice.