THE NEW DISEASE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LIII, Issue 123, 26 May 1919, Page 5

THE NEW DISEASE

PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES TAKEN. STATEMENT BY HEALTH MINISTER. (United Press Association.) WELLINGT ON, This Day. Regarding the new disease, Lethargic Encephalitis, the Minister of Health said to-day that the Department had been watching the indications of it ever since the beginning of the month. On the Ist of the month Dr Watt, D.H.O. at Wellington, forwarded a report to the C.H.0., and on 6th Way Dr Cliesson, D.H.O. Christchurch, sen,, a report-, concerning a case at Akuroa.

lb has now been determined to declare the disease notifiable, and the necessary steps have been taken. The Department is issuing a bulletin for the information of Hospital Hoards. Medical Superintendents 1 , and the _ medical profession generally, cor lairing information from one of the reports of the British Health Deparment. Infecti. vity of the disease is low, '['here are two or three suspicious cases in the Welingtou Hospual, Thu symptoms are apt to lead to confur-wn-with- -cerebro spinal meningitis, in fact, the- first rases reported were notified as “C.S.M. —diagnosis uncertain.” The disease would appear to be in some relation to infantile paralysis, and it is also probable that it is a first cousin to the mysterious disease. (Other references to the disease will be found on page 7 of this issue.)