Auckland Area Still Centre Of Outbreak

Northern Advocate, 4 December 1947, Page 4

Auckland Area Still Centre Of Outbreak

INFANTILE PARALYSIS.

AUCKLAND, Thu. (P.A.).—Up to early this afternoon positive cases of infantile paralysis in the Auckland Hospital had increased by three, bringing the total to 23. The new cases are all boys, aged 11, 6 and 5. Suspected cases are one less, the total being 14. Dr Davis said yesterday that two of the new positive cases came from the metropolitan area, and one was from a country district. The location of the new cases did not reveal any tendency toward concentration in any one area.

The suspected case in Gisborne, a girl aged 18, has been diagnosed as positive. An adult from Ngaruawahia has been admitted to the Waikato Hospital as a suspected case. No other cases outside the Auckland district were reDorted yesterday. PAST RECORDS Records show that infantile paralysis epidemics in New Zealand have reached their peak later than December. , The 1916 epidemic commenced with a few cases in December and spread during January, February and March. In 1924 the first few cases were reported in Wellington at the beginning of December and the epidemic reached its height in that district the following month. It then waned in Wellington, but increased, in other areas. The peak throughout New Zealand was in the middle of February and by then there had been 133 new cases for the year. The 1936-37 epidemic began in Dunedin in December. There were 69 cases reported throughout New Zealand in January, 53 in February and 105 in March. The figure rose to 246 in April and dropped to 161 in May. The following month 100 cases were reported and in July the epidemic died out. although isolated cases continued to occur. CADET COURSES OFF The cancellation of various Navy. Army and Air Force cadet courses as a result of the outbreak of infantile paralysis was announced yesterday by the Minister of Defence (Mr Jones). The Minister said arrangements for a party of Auckland sea scouts to be taken from Wellington to Auckland in HMNZS Bellona had had to be abandoned. All secondary school cadet courses and ATC summer camps throughout New Zealand had been cancelled. No Christmas parties would be held at Air Force stations. The Director-General of Health (Dr Ritchie) said yesterday that there were no cases or suspected cases of infantile paralysis south of the line Taranaki-Hamilton-Gisborne. BANNED FROM CAMPS Families which include children under 16 years of age will not be permitted by the Health Department to patronise motor camps within the Auckland central health district during the coming summer holidays. The area extends from Wellsford to Mercer. Dr Davis said yesterday that all communal camps came under the heading of places of public assembly,

from which children under 16 years of age were banned under section 76 of the Health Act as a precaution against the spread of infantile paralysis. Inquiries poured into the office of the Automobile Association (Auckland) yesterday from members who wanted to know whether they would have to cancel bookings at motor camps. The touring manager (Mr R. E. Champtaloup) obtained a ruling from the Health Department. He said later that at present persons over 16 years of age were not affected by the restriction, although the medical officer of health strongly advised the greatest caution even with older children. PLAYING AREAS When a suggestion that children’s playing areas should be closed was referred to the Mayor (Mr Allum) he said this would have no practical result. He emphasised that the responsibility was entirely on parents to prevent children congregating. If parents were willing to allow children to go to playing areas they would be equally willing to permit them to go to adjacant parks or play in the streets or meet other children in the grounds of their own homes. Mr Allum said it was the responsibility of parents to do their utmost to carry out the requirements of the medical officer of health. MAIN TRUNK No restrictions have been placed on children travelling from Auckland to Wellington or from Wellington to Auckland, said the Director-General of Health (Dr T. R. Ritchie) today. No cases of infantile paralysis have been reported in Wellington district, but a day-to-day watch is being kept on the position. In the meantime there would be no tightening of bans already imposed, said the medical officer of health for Wellington (Dr H. Smith). WANGANUI CASE A suspected case of infantile paralysis, an 18-months’-old child, was reDorted in the Wellington-Wanganui-Hawke's Bay health district today by the medical officer of health, Palmerston North. The victim lives at Horopito and was admitted to the Wanganui Hospital. The test is not yet completed.