Doctors' Comment On 'Flu Danger
WELLINGTON, Thu. < Sp.).—ls influenza in epidemic form likely to spread from the northern hemisphere to New Zealand?
This question was put to medical authorities in Wellington, their reaction being that they must await the professional journals before coming to a conclusion that the cabled statements on the prevalence of ‘flu in Britain were based on reliable grounds. The periodicity theory of a 25 to 30 year cycle has been put forward, it was explained, but it has not always worked out.
Air travel has increased the risk ot introducing such types of diseases from overseas. The disastrous influenza epidemic following the First World War originated in the northern hemisphere, and its introduction to New Zealand was definitely proved to be due to overseas arrivals.
However, the mass movement of men after the last war was completed without the transmission of disease throughout the world. In the 1918 threat of epidemic recurred today, there are penicillin and sulpha drugs available. Experience has proved that they provide a highly effective defence against complications associated with influenza, a defence not in existence when New Zealand suffered the worst epidemic in history.
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Northern Advocate, 9 December 1948, Page 5
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193Doctors' Comment On 'Flu Danger Northern Advocate, 9 December 1948, Page 5
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