’FLU MENACE

Grey River Argus, 16 December 1943, Page 4

’FLU MENACE

EPIDEMIC SPREADS Many Dying in Germany DAMP SHELTERS CAUSE “CELLAR SICKNESS” [Aust. & N.Z. Press Assn.] (Rec. 12.0) LONDON, Dec. 15. According to Swedish reports two thousand persons, mostly young people, died in Germany last week from, influenza. Germany is keeping very quiet about the epidemic and banning newspaper announcements of deaths from this cause. Comparable figures for England and Wales were 709 deaths in the week ended December 4. A doctor who recently arrived at Madrid reported that influenza was sweeping Germany during November and the first week of December. Victims were particularly numerous in the Rhineland and Prussia. Half a million Berliners were reported to be suffering from .an epidemic called “cellar sickness”— a form of influenza caused by long vigils in damp shelters during air raids. North Italy Epidemic BOMBED PEOPLE’S PLIGHT. LONDON, Dec. 14. A British United Press correspondent on the Italian frontier stated: The influenza epidemic is spreading rapidly in German-con'trolled Northern Italy. Already thousands of Italians have died and the deathroll may rise to unprecedented figures. Hundreds of thousands of Italian men, women and children, who were bombed out of their homes are living in the open in temperatures of five to eight degrees below freezing point. They lack adequate medical equipment and proper food. Over 30,000 cases are reported in Milan alone. The hospitals everywhere are jammed with the most Serious cases. The Germans are ruthlesslv abandoning the Italian civilians to their fate. Thousands of German soldiers arriving in Northern Italy are receiving priority treatment immediately they become victims. > N.Z. Precautions P.A. WELLINGTON, Dec. 15. Hon. A. H. Nordmeyer, Minister of Health, when asked to comment on the cables indicating the serious outbreak of influenza., in Great Britain, said that already action has been taken to ensure that the emergency organisation built up earlier in tne war to deal with possible casualties shall be ready to function if the epidemic should reach New Zealand. The Medical Officer of Health had been instructed to communicate with all of the responsible organisers to see that al! arrangements were kept up to date. “I am advised,” said the Minister, “that there doe s not appear to be any justification for undue alarm. But, nevertheless, it fc 'considered desirable, in the public interest, to take such steps as may be necessary.”