AUSTRALIAN EPIDEMIC.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17144, 25 April 1919, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN EPIDEMIC.

NOTIFICATION TO CEASE. "UNNECESSARY PANIC." Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Eccd. 8.5 p.m.) MELBOURNE, April 24. The Board ai Health has recommended the abolition of the compulsory notification of influenza on the grounds that it was too drastic, interfe: A with business, and led to unnecessary panic. In reply to a question whether it conld be assumed beyond question that the visitation was not Spanish influenza, the chairman, Dr. Robertson, said the influenza was (the same now as in the time of Hippocartes, but was more virulent Mian it had been in former years. Every disease had its degrees of virulence. Another member declared that thousands of cases reported were merely simple colds, their notification helping towards unwarranted panic. SYDNEY SHOWS DECLINE. TESTS OF INOCULATION. [FROM OUH own correspondent.] i. a*<! N.Z. SYDNEY. April 24. The deaths from influenza in the metropolitan area have shown an appreciable decline in the past few days. Yesterday they fell to 16. The previous average for some time was over thirty. In the country, however, it was more virulent, and continues to spread. I The Federal health authorities tested 3150 cases to prove the efficacy or otherwise of inoculation. Two thousand of these were not inoculated, of which 34 per cent, contracted the disease in a severe form. Eleven per cent. died. There were 1150 persons inoculated, of whom 16 per cent, contracted influenza severely and 3 ' per cent. died. These figures have satisfied the quarantine authorities, both ae regards contracting it in a severe form and the prospects of a fatal termination, of the value of inoculation..