SCARLET FEVER ON WEST COAST

Grey River Argus, 19 April 1948, Page 4

SCARLET FEVER ON WEST COAST

Hospital Cases and Closing of Infant Classes

There are indications that scarlet fever has been spreading an the West Coast, and cases are being reported from Runanga, „Kumara and other localities.

The arrival at the Greymouth Public Hospital on Saturday of three scarlet fever cases obliged the hospital authorities to open a ward which had been closed for some time to accommodate the admissions, in isolation. The cases admitted on Saturday, ail children, are believed to have been the first oi. several which will arrive at the Hospital during tms week. Hannan Ward, which was closed some time ago, because oi shortages of domestic and nursing staff, was reopened on Saturday, wnen rc became apparent that there were several cases to be admitted.

A hospital doctor said last night that, altnough there now were more cases than usual in the hospital, there was no case tor alarm, tor the disease usually struck aoout this time or me year. The ages of the children so far admitted to the hopsitai were nine months, seven years and nine years. Sister Hay-MacKenzie, formerly of Westport, is in cnarge oi tne isolation ward. Scarlet fever or scarlatina as it is sometimes called, is an infectious fever marked by the appearance on the second day of 1 imection of a bright red rash of closely grouped spots. Shortly after, this, the infected person develops a temperature and a very sore throat. On the fourth day the raslj starts to fade and by the end of the week usually disappears, and as its fadea the skin is shed in fine scales or large flakes. The affliction is infectious and is easily spread from child to child.

Our Kumaia correspondent reports that seven children belonging to that district are now in hospital.

SCHOOL CLASSES CLOSED

Infant classes, Primers 1 and 2 at the Runanga School have been closed because of the ■ incidence, of scarlet fever at that school. The t\ ree children in the Greymouth hospital at present are from the Runanga school, and there are nine more cases in the district. However, these are net as serious as to demand hospital treatment, and the local doctor is keeping them under observation, in their homes.

The average age of the Runanga children infected with the fever is about seven and a half years, although some of them are younger than this. As no fresh cases have been reported in the last twenty-four hours it is believed that the outbreak has been stemmed and it is not expected further closing of schools will be necessary.

Up to a late hour last, night no cases of scarlet fever had been reported in Greymouth. The local schools are therefore, under no restrictions as far as attendance is concerned. However, with the continuation of hot and dry weather, it is likely that there might be more cases and these snould be immediately reported.