THE DIPHTHERIA EPIDEMIC.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXXVII, Issue LXXVII, 19 July 1918, Page 4

THE DIPHTHERIA EPIDEMIC.

* The public would do well to note carefully the remarks made by Dr. MacDiarmid at the Hospital Board meeting yes_ tordiay concerning the diphtheria epidemic, which is causing the town and district so much trouble. The doctor ! has given ctearly some very valuable infoimatoon about the disease and causes that contribute to its prevalence, and it appears' that contact with "carriers" is mainly the source of the trouble. It is in the detection and isolation of "carriers" that the doctors are faoed with what seems to be an almost insurmountable difficulty, for the disease may attack a person, practically no symptoms accompanying it. Even if the development of a sore throat later indicates that the person lias diphtheria, it is often too late to arrest the spread of the disease due to the patient's contact with other people in ordinary every-day life. From the doctor's remarks one learns that a plentiful supply of fresh air and the greatest degree of cleanliness are first essentials in endeavoring to overcome the epidemic. It .seems that places where children gather together in large numbers provide a good field for the microbe, and schools and picture shows are said to contribute to *>he doctors' difficulties, i As will * be. seen from the report, the Hospital Board is desirous that the schools should be closed for a period of two months, and that every effort should be made to prevent children com_ j ing in contact with one another. Per- j haps the idea would be successful in some degree, but we feel, with the doc_ j tor, that a very great deal depends upon parents themselves in -enforcing strict cleanliness. As we mentioned in a previous article on the subject, it is . most important that drains and rubbish heaps should bo given regular attention, while too much care cannot be taken of the teeth. It is hoped that the public generally will do all in their power to assist the doctors in overcoming the epidemic, which has for too long been a ! menace to the health of the town and district. Special care should be ta^en by parents to isolate "carriers" and earn- out the instructions given by the doctors.