SCARLET FEVER.

Grey River Argus, 21 November 1928, Page 5

SCARLET FEVER.

Epidemic Restriction. CHRISTCHURCH SCHOOL CLASSES TO RESUME. STATEMENT BI DR. VALENTINE. CHRISTCHURCH, November 20. Following a held this morning, between representatives of the Health D. partment and the Canterbury Education Boia«rd, the restrictions imposed on the attendance of children under ten years of age at schools in the Christchurch Metropolitan Area have been lifted. The lower classes in the majority of th,/.' schools will be rcstuned tomorrow, and the pupils at (Several of the schools will be medically examined by officers of the Health Department.

Dr. VaJ mtinc (Director General of Health) to-day that scarlet fever was a disease which in New Zealand, had usually run its course or from two to throe years. An epidemic about twelve years ago, and om.- agwin approximately twelve years before that, gave mu r h greater death rates and effects, than was the case with tIU present epidemic, which had been running through the Dominion nearly two years, and in Christchurch in particular for over a year. In former epidemics, Dr. Valentine added as many as ninety deaths would occur in one year. Last year throughout the Übminion theiV were sixteen deaths from! scarlet fever, and up to date this the number uta|s about twenty. The reason the Department considered it advisably that a close should be made of child ren attending certain schools, nas that in addition to clear cases of scarlet fever, there were some in staiheee of children with red growths, Which, while hot suffering severely frpm ( the disease, probably were a factor in spreading it. It is probable that the school dental clinics will shortly be re-opened.