INFANTILE PARALYSIS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 127, 30 April 1937, Page 6

INFANTILE PARALYSIS

NO MORE CASES ADMITTED. ONE PATIENT DISCHARGED. The first case of infantile paralysis admitted to the Palmerston North Hospital front this district to be discharged has now left the institution. The patient is a woman about 30 years of age, from Bainesse, and her condition has so materially improved that she has left the Hospital, although she will remain an outpatient. The case was one of the first group admitted, and was an unfortunate one 111 that the woman had a small baby. The baby was kept under observation foi tlie requisite period, but did not show any symptoms of the complaint. Latterly the child has been cared for elsewhere. There are now 23 positive cases remaining in Hospital in addition to two cases or suspected infection which are under observation. It is anticipated that there is more likelihood of these cases proving negative than positive. The boy, aged 11, who, it was previously reported, came from 1* bert West, came actually from \V aiata, where be had been living with his grandparents for some months. His parents live in the Fitzherbert M estOpiki area. No further cases had been admitted up to 1 p.m. POSITION OF SCHOOLS. MINISTER’S ANNOUNCEMENT. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, April 29. The Minister of Health and Education (Hon. P. Fraser) stated, to-day that inquiries were being received by the departments concerned in regard to the date of re-opening of schools 111 areas where school closure has been imposed as a precautionary measure against tlie spread of infantile paralysis, and he had, therefore, decided to issue a statement for the information of the public. At the present time schools are closed as a group in three areas, % namely, the Wellington Education Board district north of Cook Strait; in that portion of the Hawke’s Bay education district north of Nuhaka and including the East Coast area, and in a portion of tlie Auckland education district in the AVaikato. Because of the proximity of the school holidays, it has been decided that schools in these areas —primary, post-primary, Native, and private—shall remain closed until May, 24, the opening date of the second term. At present the various boarding establishments in these areas have been allowed to retain tlieir boarders on the understanding that the movements of these pupils are restricted to the school grounds. r Where the authorities concerned so elect, these boarding schools can now permit these pupils to return to their homes, but on the definite understanding that such pupils will not be allowed to return to school until the day pupils are also permitted to assemble in these same areas. The medical officers of health will continue to impose the restrictions now in force, namely, the prohibition of the attendance of cfiildren under the age of 16 at picture theatres, Sunday schools and other gatherings. As part of the period between now aud May 24 includes some ten days of school holidays, the medical officers of health are being told to exercise their discretion as to whether these restrictions arc lifted partially or wholly before May 24. 111 addition to tlie schools which have been closed as groups, there are instances where individual schools have been closed on account of the occurrence of cases of infantile paralysis. As regards the re-opening of these schools, the education authorities will be guided by the advice of the medical officers of health. It is understood that .teachers will remain • on duty at the schools until the end of the term in the three areas mentioned above, and in other districts where, in the opinion of the medical officers of health, such action is undesirable the education authorities should not arrange as part of the Coronation celebrations functions in the school grounds and other places that would involve the assembling of children.

It will be observed that the Minister has made no reference to the schools in the Wanganui Education Board’s area, which include those in Palmerston North. It will be a fortnight on Monday since all schools in this city area, including secondary schools, were closed by order of the health authorities following the dosing of the Terrace End aiid Hokowhitu Schools a. few days earlier. CASES IN TARANAKI. Per Press Association. NEW PLYMOUTH, April 29. Five cases of infantile paralysis were reported to-day in laranaki. A Maori girl, aged eight, was admitted to the New Plymouth Hospital from Mokau. A girl aged eight troni Kapum, a boy of 12 from Paponga, and a boy of tliree ironi Eltham, were admitted to the Hawera Hospital.' A Ngaere suspect, a boy aged 13, with weakness in a leg, was admitted to the Stratford Hospital. The Mokau, Kaponga, Ivapuui and Ngaere schools were closed. The Eltham school has been closed for some time. HASTINGS NOTIFICATION. HASTINGS, April 29. Another case of infantile paralysis was admitted to the Napier Hospital last evening from Hastings, the latest victim being a tuor-year-old girl from Konini Street. This is the first case reported within the past 18 days. Though naturally concerned that there should be another ease of the disease in the borough, the health authorities are not unduly concerned and believe that it is merely an isolated case. ANOTHER MAORI PATIENT. ADMITTED AT OPOTIKI. Per Press Association. OPOTIKI, April 30. Another case of infantile paralysi.i has been reported in the borough. The patient is a Maori lad aged 17.