INFLUENZA.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVIII, Issue 18331, 13 February 1920, Page 4

INFLUENZA.

CANTERBURY AND WESTLAND."' OFFICIAL FIGURES. Dtr T. E. J. Hughes, District Health Officer, stated yesterday that the notifications for the twenty-four hours up to noon showed a decrease. The cases reported were all mild. The Health Department's bulletin covering the period from noon on Monday till noon yesterday read as follows : North Canterbury, 57 cases, all mild—

Ohrisjchurch . » .44 Leithiield . * . 2 New Brighton » . 3 Redcliffs . . » < 3 Hoathcote v . .1 Kaiapol . . . . 1 Little River . . ’ , 1 Sumner • 1

Lyttelton ... 1 ARhburton district 4, all mild (3 at Ashburton and 1 Rakaia). South Canterbury 13, all mild (8 at Timaru, 2 Temuka, 1 Waiuiate, 1 Pleasant Valley 1 Makikihi). Groy—One mud at Dunollio. Inangahua—-7, all mild (6 at Reefton, 1 Hinau). Buller—2 mild at Qranity. Other districts nil. Total 84. ■ 'i ' CONFERENCE OF DOCTORS. At an informal conference of Christchurch doctors with officers' of the Public Health Department, the influenza situation was discussed. It was agreed that, though there had been an increase in cases of the very mud type, there was nothing to warrant the imposition of severe restrictions or to justify the closing of the schools for any extended period. The opinion # was also expressed that there were no signs of the present outbreak spreading on a large scale. The arrangements made by the Influenza Committee for the operation of a blook system of medical services were approved. REOPENING THE SCHOOLS. A medical man said yesterday that Christchurch schools certainly possessed healthier surroundings than those in North Island cities. There was no reason at all why open-air classes, at least, should not be going on, and, provided the distriot health officer concurred, the closing order should be rescinded without any loss of time. Generally speaking, however, reasonable precautions should always be taken where there was danger from crowding, and the officer with the figures was the best judge of what measures were necessary. The Canterbury Education Board has deoided that inpursuance of authority given by the Health Department, unless further notification is made, all schools will reopen on Thursday, Febru-* ary 19. Schools closed for harvest holidays are not affected. The District Health Officer for Canterbury says that he has received no information to this effect.

Three cases have been admitted to the Christchurch Hospital since Wednesday, making; a total of twenty-four cases in the isolation ward. Two of the patients are in a serious condition. DOMINION FIGURES. SATISFACTORY DIMINUTION/ [Per Pbbss Association.] WELLINGTON, February 12. The latest figures issued by the Health Department cover the period between noon on February 9 and noon on February 12. During these three days the total number of cases reported throughout the Dominion was 63i>, of which 616 were mild cases, 9 pneumonic and 14 severe. Dr Makgill says that notifications received from all parts of the Dominion to-day show a satisfactory diminution in the number of cases reported. INTERESTING STATISTICS. [Per Press Association.] WELLINGTON, February 12. In connection with the influenza outbreak, the Health Department pointed out to-cfay that prior to 1918, when the big fepidemic drew so much i attention to°the subject' of influenza, there was annually a considerable death rate from this cause, which occasioned no alarm, whatever. Since the epidemic of 1918 influenza has been made a notifiable disease, and, therefore, increased interest has centred round the numbers of notifications and numbers of deaths. Following is a table showing the death rate for tto past fourteen years:—■

1906 . « 132 1907 . . • -223 J. 908 . . . 64 . 1909 ; 47 1910 . 141 1911 ..... <33 1912 . . . . 6o 1913 . . 56 1914 .... 63 1916 .... HO 1916 .< . . . 73. 1917 .... 38 1918 . 6689 1919 . . . .160 / (approximate)

"It will be seen, then," remarked the Acting-Chief Health Officer (Br R. K. Makgill), when referring to the figures quo tod above, "that every year accounts for a varying number of deaths, the highest on the list (except 1918) being 1907, yet though tho deaths were then ,223 in number no one showed the least alarm; indeed, the fact that there was an epidemio of influenza that year was known only to a few. We have not yet received completed returns for 1919, but during January of that year we wore still suffering from the after-effects of the great epidemic of November, 191 S, and during that month there were fifty-seven deaths. From July to December, 1919, there were no more than fifty deaths recorded, although there was a considerable epidemic of influenza in 1919 which .caused no little alarm. Probably the total number of deaths for tho year would be found to be well under 160, and, therefore, not in excess of many previously recorded years. The mere existence of influenza in epidemio form is nothing new and should not create alarm. Were it not for the foot that the disease is notifiable and that statistics are published from day to day, it is questionable whether the present epidemio would have attracted public attention." DECREASE IN WELLINGTON. [Pee Press Association.] WELLINGTON, February 12. During the twenty-four hours ended at noon to-day fifty-seven cases of influenza were reported from various parts of the Wellington Public Health District including nineteen from Wellington City and fifWn £>~™ p^W^^u

North. These figures show a decrease of thirty-five compared with the return for the previous day, when ninety-two cases were reported. The District Health Officer, Dr Faris, saya that the type of oases < reported continued to be mild, and he is of opinion that the position is improving steadily. The ratio of pneumonio cases remains low. AUCKLAND OASES. [Per Press Association.] AUCKLAND, February 12. The influenza notifications fell to sixteen to-day, including only one severe case. There were nine oases in the city area. As an outcome of the meeting held in Ashburton recently in. connection with the influenza outbreak, Mr J. Watson, seoretary, reports that there has been a liberal response to the 1 circular sent out. In addition to a large number of voluntary helpers, the local Automobile Association has offered the services of its members and their motorcars for the transport of nurses, the distribution of food, etc.