CLOSING OF CAMPS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXX, 19 December 1936, Page 9

CLOSING OF CAMPS

HEALTH DEPARTMENT’S VIEW

In an interview, Dr. Craven, Medical Superintendent of the Auckland Hospital, r expressed the view that the Health Department, rather than ordering the closing of children’s camps owing to the'recent outbreak of infantile paralysis, should open as many as possible. When this statement was referred to the Health Department, Dr. M. H. Watt, the Director-General of Health, stated that the Department, which had experience of two former epidemics of poliomyelitis, could not agree with Dr. Craven. “Poliomyelitis, as is well known, is pre-eminently a disease of children and health camps therefore would make a particularly favourable soil for the spread of the disease if the virus were once introduced,” said Dr. Watt. “The history of the present Dunedin outbreak is that for some three or four weeks before the first case of paralysis was notified a febrile condi- ' tion of uncertain character had been widespread throughout the community. The symptoms generally were so mild that medical advice was not sought. In light of subsequent events it is now considered that this obscure illness represented the first phase of the epidemic. Until it can be demonstrated to the satisfaction of the Department that the present outbreak is localised to Dunedin it is regarded as most undesirable, if not dangerous, to allow the congregation of children collected from different parts of a city or a province. Poliomyelitis may vary from a minor illness which clears up rapidly to a serious condition with high temperature, paralysis, or even death. It is therefore not • conceivable that a child suffering from a minor form .of the might be introduced into a camp where there would be unlimited opportunities' for the spread of the mf6 “Daily inspections by qualified nurses would eliminate cases once they had occurred but v/ould give no assistance in detecting children recovering from, minor attacks or car riers who are regarded as playing a prominent part in the spread of the dl “There is also the further possibility that an adult who is wholly immune to the disease may ® - rier and introduce the disease 1.-to tn camp and spread it amongst this most suable portion of the population the' department cannot agree with Dr. Craven, but the public can be sure that permission wilkbe given to hold the camps as soon as it is regarded as safe to do so.

SUSPECTED CHRISTCHURCH CASE

CHRISTCHURCH, This Day. Although there has been no defip rss:? 1 -sires ss and Westland districts.