First Whangarei Case In Hospital

Northern Advocate, 10 March 1948, Page 5

First Whangarei Case In Hospital

INFANTILE PARALYSIS..-

THE first case of infantile paralysis involving a Whangarei child has occurred.

Admitted to the Whangarei Hospital yesterday afternoon as a suspected case, a four-year-old girl living at Maunu was diagnosed today as a positive case.

The child has paralysis of the right arm but her condition is stated to be good. Only one case had occurred previously in Whangarei during the present epidemic. This was a seven-year-old girl from Auckland. She arrived in Whangarei on Christmas Eve and was admitted to hospital for observation on Christmas Day.

ing the precautions they thought necessary. AMERICAN OPINION Dr Smith quoted the Journal of the American Medical Association that there was a tendency among some doctors to belittle the importance oi contacts, but American medical men mostly considered that most cases could be traced to contacts.

Identified as a positive case on December 31. the child, who has suffered paralysis of the face, was recovering rapidly when discharged on January 7. RAWENE SUSPECT

While teachers at both pakcha and native schools in Hokianga grid surrounding districts continue on duty, pupils arc still not attending, parents remaining adamant in their attitude. An endeavour to have schools officially closed and correspondence lessons resumed is being made by Hokianga members of the Educational Institute and representations are being made to the Minister of Health (Miss Howard), from whom an announcement is expected shortly. SOUTHERN CASES No new positive or suspected cases of infantile paralysis were reported in the Central Auckland health district yesterday. One patient, a positive case, was discharged from the Auckland Hospital. There were 42 positive cases and one suspect in the hospital last night. A further suspected case was reported yesterday from the South Auckland health district. The patient is a girl aged six, from Mangapehi.

Another case of suspected paralysis has occurred in the Rawcne district. Sc far the condition has not been definitely diagnosed, but the case is being watched closely. In the meantime the patient had not been admitted to hospital. No other details are available. Ihe medical superintendent of the ITokianga Health Service, (Dr G. M. Smith) today disagreed with the opinion stated by the Northland medical officer of health (Dr J. L. Newman) that mass panic was occurring in Northland and becoming a greater enemy than poliomyelitis.

There was no such thing as mass hysteria in Hokianga, said Dr' Smith. In not allowing their children to attend school, parents were merely talc-