INFANTILE PARALYSIS

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 14 January 1925, Page 5

INFANTILE PARALYSIS

WARNING ISSUED PRECAUTIONS NECESSARY \ SOUTH TARANAKI AFFECTED SCHOOL GATHERINGS BARRED The spread of infantile paralysis has caused the Health Department some concern and, though the Hawera district has been absolutely free from the disease so far. the necessity for taking every precaution has become manifest. The following stringent order was received by the Star to-day in a Press Association message from'Wellington: An order has been issued by the Health Department prohibiting children under 16 years of age from attending entertainments, recreations or sports grounds, picnics, etc., and all schools. It ap-. plies from Wellington to Napier and to part of Taranaki. Sunday School Picnics Cancelled.

This order will have important effects in the 'Hawera district. It will mean that the three big Sunday School picnics arranged for- to-day fortnight will have to pe cancelled in the meantime, and unless permission is given by the Health authorities will have to be abandoned this year, as ordinarily - the season would be too far advanced • and the children would he all hack at

school. The three picnics are under the auspices of, the Anglican, Methodist and Presbyterian Churches. This means that approximately 700 or 800 children will be deprived of the pleasure of taking part ip events to which they look forward with the keenest zest.

The Health authorities, however, are evidently mindful of the lack of precautions taken in the influenza epidemic, and it behoves everyone to assist to the best of their ability in preventing the spread of the disease by obeying the instructions issued. Hawera Borough Council’s Action.

. The Hawera Borough authorities are to be congratulated on the rapidity and thoroughness with which they have taken the matter of precautions in hand, and without doubt residents will appreciate their efforts to the full. If only one life is saved the cost* which may be incurred will he well worth while, and ‘though the civic fathers desire to he conservative in expenditure, the health of the town is of major importance. “The prohibition would evidently,” said the Mayor (Mr L. A. Bone) in an interview with a Hawera Star reporter, “apply to South Taranaki, including the Hawera. district. It will have the effect of disorganising many prospective gatherings, but evidently the Department has deemed the precautions necessary. The instructions mean that the Sunday Schools will he requested not to reassemble on Sunday, as was the intention, and the forthcoming picnics which were to be held in a fortnight’s time will in the meantime he cancelled. This action will cheerfully he done, as it is absolutely essential in the interests of the health of the community that such drastic action should he taken. The civic authorities have held a conference, as the result of which every arrangement will lie made for the safeguarding of the health of the people generally as far as is humanly possible to prevent cases occurring in Hawera. Mayor’s Appeal.

“I, as Mayor, would specially ask the people of the town to co-operate to the utmost of their power with the Health Department and the Borough Council in doing all possible in this matter. The Borough Council has decided on a cleaning-rip week. This means that all household refuse will he taken away free from the footpaths on dates specified for the various streets. Notices will be left at every house a day or so before the carts call, and it behoves citizens to assist, the borough authorities 'by attending to this matter with the utmost dispatch.’’ The Mayor added that 'he had not yet had the official notification in regard to the matter, but this would no doubt come during the course of the day. He therefore deemed it necessary to act on the Press Association telegram. Undue Alarm Deprecated. The opinion of medical men generally is tnat, while the precautions are simple and necessary, there is no heed for undue alarm. The cases of infantile paralysis reported for the Wellington health district since the first week in December number 77. PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES. The Hawera Borough Council has issued the following statement: In view of the possibility of the introduction of this disease, the following information is given: It is an infectious disease attacking babies and young children, although adults are not exempt. The disease is carried from jjerson to person, and infection taken through "the nose and mouth. It can be communicated by apparently healthy persons, both young and old. Symptoms: Irritability, drowsiness, accompanied by headache, vomiting, fever and stomach and bowel troubles. Paralysis affecting one or more groups of muscles, especially of the limbs, may also supervene. Medical advice should at once be obtained.

As this disease is widely spread (by ill-defined cases and by carriers) the following precautions are recommended, viz. :

(1) The gathering together of children or attendance at public amusements is not advisable, and they shotjkl not 1 'be allowed to come into contact with any case of sickness, however slight, as the .disease itself is one which varies widely in the severity of its symptoms. (2) Kissing and fondling of children should be avoided, also common use of drinking cups, etc. (3) Mild nasal disinfectants (even for the apparently healthy) are strongly recommended, such as the following: (a) Half a teaspoonful of salt to a breakfast cup of tepid water made very faintly pink with iiermanganate of potash ; or (b) a one per cent solution of peroxide of hydrogen in water. If an atomiser or. spray is not available solution should he sniffed up through the nostrils and expelled from the mouth, the remainder of solution being used as a mouth wash or gargle. (4) Householders should so far as possible burn all rubbish and prevent any accumulation of garbage. (5) Steps should he taken to destroy flies and to prevent their access to any article of food. The council is undertaking a general clean-up of the borough on dates which will he notified. The council requests occupiers of business premises that until the pres-

ent outbreak of infantile paralysis in New Zealand subsides dry sweeping should be abandoned, and sawdust moistened with antiseptic used when sweeping. Council is prepared to supply prepared sawdust free of charge on application at council yards, Albion street, between 9 a.m. and noon, but in the event of sawdust not being obtainable council will supply disinfectant. This should be mixed with water in the proportion of half a pint to 25 gallons of water for sprinkling floor prior to sweeping. Applicants are requested to bring receptacles for sawdust or disinfectant. CASES AT MASTERTON. The death of a child aged eight years occurred yesterday from infantile paralysis. Another case of infantile paralysis has been officially notified.