DIPHTHERIA CASES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16580, 2 July 1917, Page 4

DIPHTHERIA CASES.

POSITION IN AUCKLAND. FIGURES FOR DOMINION. The increase'in the number of diphtheria patients received at the Auckland Hospital lias taken up .all tho accommodation set apart for these cases, and with tho object of considering what steps should be taken, to provide increased (-pace a special meet' ing of the Hospital Board, convened by the chairman, Mr. M. J. Coyle, will bo held at the board's office this morning. Dr. Mcguire, medical superintendent, stated yesterday that there wero 62 • diphtheria patients at present in the institution. The number of cases coming in had shown a slight docreaso during tho past ew days, and he believed that alight modifications of the infectious diseases ward would meet the demand for increased accommodation. Tho weekly bulletins issued by tho Public Health .Department, containing particulars of notifiable diseases, show that there has been a gradual increase in the number -of cases of diphtheria reported to tho authorities during the past few months, in practically all parte of the Dominion. The average number of cases notified weekly in Auckland during March was six, and this increased to eight in April, and to 12 in May/ Tho highest number of cases of diphtheria for any one week in this year up to date was recorded for tho week ended May 28, when 162 cases were notified to the Heelth Department in various parte of the Dominion. Of these cases 10 wero notified in Auckland, 26 in Wellington, 21 in Gisborno. 28 in North Canterbury, and 20 in Southland, Particulars of the number of cases reported in the Dominion during the threo weeks prior to Juno 25 are as follow :—Week ended June 11, 135 cases ; June 18, 146 cases; Juno 25, 151 cases. The notifications in Auckland during these weeks were 17, 29, and 20, respectively. Tho latest figurta for Auckland are not so large as is tho ease in some other districts. During the, week ended June 25, when 20- oases were notified in Auckland, 25 cases were reported in Oishorno and 25 in North Canterbury, while 16 cases occurred in Wellington. Dr. S/agn/re states that ho considers that tho climax has been reached and that the number .of cases reported will now gradually diminish.