’FLU EPIDEMIC WILL PROVE ONE OF WORST RECORDED IN ENGLAND

Manawatu Times, Issue 6848, 1 March 1929, Page 7

’FLU EPIDEMIC WILL PROVE ONE OF WORST RECORDED IN ENGLAND

Black Week In Leeds

LAST WEEK’S DEATHS REACH TOTAL OP 625

TERRIBLE INFANT MORTALITY.

doited Praia Association —By Electrii Telograph—Copyright. Received Friday, 2 a.m. LONDON, Feb. 27.

* * The epidemic of last week is the blackest in the city’s history,” reports the Leeds health officer, in supplying influenza statistics. "It was worse than the worst week of the serious epidemic of 1918. The deaths totalled 625. This is the worst recorded and is equivalent to 68 per thousand. The most tragic aspect relates to infants under 12 months among whom the deaths were three in every ten.” . The Health department is certain tne actual position is worse than the figures indicate, because many cases of influenza and pneumonia have not been reported to the department. Consumptive ca-ses -are also abnormal. Influenza cases reported for the present week indicate an even worse total. Thbugh the public has long been pretty sure that the epidemic can be ranked with the worst which has occurred throughout the country, Leeds is the first centre to give the actual figures. Return of Winter BITTE& EASTERLIES TEST STRONGEST CONSTITUTIONS Received Friday, 3 a.m. LONDON, Feb. 27. The Teturn of Arctic weather in full blast has gravely increased the dangers attendant on respiratory diseases. Severe frosts continue to be reported almost throughout the country but even worse are the wintry blasts, the caßt wind testing even strong constitutions. Horse racing has been off continuously for over a fortnight and owners have been deprived of £30,000 stake money by the abandonment of 33 days’ racing. The Waterloo Cup, after two weekly postponements, has now been fixed for the middle of March. Ice skating is again in full swing in most parts.