INFANTILE PARALYSIS

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLV, Issue 59, 9 February 1925, Page 5

INFANTILE PARALYSIS

SIX CASES SINCE NOON SATURDAY THREE FROM PALMERSTON NORTH. Since noon on Saturday six cases of infantile paralysis, three of which are from Palmerston North and tho rest from Levin, have been admitted to tha Palmerston North hospital for treatment. Yesterday two definite cases of the disease, a girl aged six and a boy aged three years, were admitted from Lovin, and one "suspect" case, a girl nged four, from Palmerston North, inquiry of tho hospital this afternoon elicited the information that, although tho last-named case had not yet been diagnosed beyond all doubt, the medical superintendent, Dr. Forrest, was of the opinion that it wns another case of the dreaded disease. This morning thrre were two more cases from Palmerston North and another from Levin. ""The patients admitted over tho weekend," said Dr. Forrest, "have infantile paralysis in a moderately severe form. A 'suspect' case admitted from Levin yesterday proved to be pneumonia." All tho patients' in hospital are progressing es well as can be expected. To date throe former sufferers of the disease have volunteered to give blood for the making of serum, but many more are needed if ample supplies are to be made available. The origin of the 28 cases so far treated at the Palmerston North hospital is as follows:—Palmerston North 9, Lovin 9, Rongotea 2. Halcombe, Ashhurst (Eaumai), Bainesse, Tokomaru, Shannon, Otaki, Manawatu Heads and Mangaweka one each. Only three patients havo succumbed —a man -from Shannon, a boy aged 12 from Otaki and an infant from Levin.

A fresh caso of infantile paralysis was notified in Blenheim yesterday. It is a mild case of a littlo boy, a member of a large family. It has been definitely decided that tho case removed to tho Westport hospital for observation is not infantile paralysis. This gives Westport still a clean sheet. The Blenheim Borough Council has forwarded a strong protest to tho Health Department against the territorial camp proposed to be hold at Tapawera, near Nelson, this month owing to tho risk of infection. At a meeting of citizens in Timaru a resolution was passed calling upon the Minister for Defence to immediately cancel all territorial camps until the epidemic subsides. Asked at Christchurch yesterday when the schools would re-open, Sir James Parr said tho Education Department would bo guided largely by tho advice of tho Public Health Department. "Personally, however, I hold very strongly tho view that all possible risk must bo avoided in tho interests of the children," added Sir James. "I shall certainly bo averse to tho gathering of 220,000 children in the schools until we havo a reasonable assurance that th'l'3 fell disease is practically at an end." FEWER NOTIFICATIONS. Por Press Association. WELLINGTON, Feb. 8. In the infantile paralysis epidemic tho city area did not contribute to tho total for 24 hours, and tho Dominion notifies tions for tho same period were only 13, being six less than for the 24 hours ending nine o'clock on Friday morning, when 19 cases wero reported for the whole of tho Dominion, including ono in Wellington City. The late3t returns for tho four health districts were distributed as under. —Auckland health district 6 (City 4, Northcoto 1, Avondalel); Wellington health district 3 (Hawera 1, Lovin 1, Tawa Flat 1); Canterbury health district 4, (City 3, Allenton 1). On enquiry boing made at tho Health Department a New Zealand Times reporter was informed that there was no occasion for further comment on the opidemic at present. "The figures speak for themselves," remarked Dr Erio McKibbon, Assistant-Director-General of Health. He commented on tho fewer cases that were boing reported insofar as Wellington city area was concerned and said tho position in this district was now much more satisfactory than it was earlier in tho epidemic. THRE33 MORE CASES AT HAWERA. HAWERA, Feb. 9. . Three fresh cases of infantile paralysis have been admitted to tho Hawera hospital, making a total of four children under treatment—three boys and one girl. Two of the cases are only mild. The Borough Council opened an inhalation chamber this morning. WELLINGTON SCHOOLS. NOT RE-OPENING FOR FORTNIGHT. The Health Department and the Wellington Education Board, after a consultation, have decided that it is not at present advisable to re-open the schools, and although nothing definite lias yet been decided, it is improbable that the embargo will be lifted during the present month. The following statement has been issued by the Education Board: — The Education Board, after consultation with the health authorities, announces that the date for re-opening the schools cannot yat be fixed. It may now, however, be definitely stated that tho date will certainly not be earlier than February 23.