INFANTILE PARALYSIS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LII, Issue 67, 18 February 1932, Page 8

INFANTILE PARALYSIS

DEPARTMENT WATCHFUL. AUCKLAND, Feb. .16. ' . “The fact that three cases of infantile paralysis have been reported in the Southland health, district is regarded by the Health “Department as a danger-signal that cannot be disregarded, and a close watch on the position is being-, maintained,” said the Minister of Health,.Hon. J. A. Young, - when questioned as to the present position regarding infectious dis€&B6S» . ? The Minister said, that, generally speaking, the situation was satisfactory,—and particularly so as regards scarlet fever and diphtheria. One disease, however, whicn is causing the department some concern, the Minister said, is infantile - paralysis. The disease, which shows a distinct tendency to become epidemic at occasional intervals, was very prevalent in 1915, and again in 1925-26. It is prone to occur in late summer and autumn, and the present month perhaps constitutes our most dangerous period. Even in the most favourable years New Zealand is not entirely free from infantile paralysis, and may expect to have some thirty to forty cases reported in the course of twelve months, the maximum distribution being m the first quarter of the year. The Minister pointed out that in the last two infectious diseases bulletins issued by the Health Department there had been a small but definite rise in the number of notified cases of infantile paralysis. For the week ended February 1 there were six cases. , INCIDENCE OF DISEASE. CAUSE OF SPREAD UNKNOWN. Although infantile paralysis has been known for many years, it still remains a mystery as far as its origin and dissemination are concerned (states an exchange). The virus responsible for the infection has never been isolated. Various theories have been suggested for its remarkable distribution and its ability to leap vast distances to attack isolated communities and individuals, remote from human contact as people in the cities and towns understand it. For instance, when the disease was claiming many victims in western New South Wales, one case came from an isolated farm 40 miles from . Cobar, the nearest human habitation being many miles away. The theory of distribution by insects appears 'to nave been thoroughly tested, with negative results. What is regarded as tne most tenable theory is that the virus is transmitted from secretions of the nose and throat from individual to individual. It is .thought by some authorities that, infantile paralysis bears some relationship to encephalitis lethargica, better known as “sleeping sickness,” of which the origin,' means of dissemination, and definite cure also remain undiscovered. Infantile paralysis has goen generally classified as a disease of the late summer and autumn —a hot weather infection—in whatever climate it has occurred. Even in cold countries, such as Scandinavia, this has been found to apply. Another peculiarity of infantile paralysis is its dissemination in waves. Its incidence in the present epidemio in New South Wales has shown an appreciable drop in the metropolitan area; but it is now increasing over widely scattered country centres. Healthy, well-fed children and adults are apparently no more immune from its attack. than more weakly physical specimens; indeed, there appear to be more cases of healthy children being struck down than others with less resistance to common illnesses. Even babies being naturally fed are not immune. The mortalitv rate for the disease is high, ranging from probably 10 to 15 per cent. Tne death rate in the present epidemic has been about 11 per cent., there having been 32 deaths in 271 cases. 1 •

The new system of treatment with serum is apparently acting very effectively. This treatment is only of use if the serum is administered in the early stages of infection, before paralysis supervenes. It will not cure paralysis once that condition has developed. It is difficult to arrive at any estimate of the percentage of victims permanently affected by the disease. Many of those attacked experience only temporary paralysis, and afterwards recover completely the use of tho affected limb or limbs. Some cases respond to medical find, massage treatment, but others remain crippled for life. The victims are not mentally affected.