INFLUENZA EPIDEMIC.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 22 January 1927, Page 5

INFLUENZA EPIDEMIC.

♦ PRECAUTIONS IN NEW ZEALAND (BY TELEGRAPH PRESS ASSOCIATION.) WELLINGTON, Jan. 21. A lengthy statement, issued by the Hon. J. A. Young, Health Minister, to-day regarding influenza, states: “Port health officers have been instructed to adopt a vigorous inspection of all ships from overseas, particularly from Europe, and to withhold pratique in the case of a ship arriving with influenza aboard or with a history of the epidemic of influenza at an earlier stage of the voyage. “Medical officers of health have been instructed to satisfy themselves that the quarantine stations are able to be opened at a moment’s notice to accommodate as required, and also. to satisfy themselves that local organisations' are in readiness to cope with any outbreaks which may occur within New Zealand. The department and the public are better organised to-day than* at any time before to deal with the epidemic.” From official advice received, the nature of the epidemic in Europe is by no means so alarming as the calded news in the papers indicates. WELLINGTON PREPARATIONS. WELLINGTON, Jan. 21. A meeting of the Mayors of Wellington and nearby boroughs, and the chairmen of the adjoining local bodies and other institutions concerned in health, matters in the Wellington district, is to be held on Thursday at the suggestion of the' Department of Health to discuss means whereby the Wellington area may be placed in a state of preparedness- should the influenza epidemic reach New Zealand. WOULD REACH NEW ZEALAND AND AUSTRALIA. CHRISTCHURCH, Jan. 22. Dr. Argyle, Chief Secretary and Minister for Public Health in Victoria, was in Christchurch yesterday. Speaking of the influenza outbreak in Europe, ho said that he was confident it would reach Australia and New Zealand, but whether it would be in a mild or virulent form he said lie did not know.’