INFANTILE PARALYSIS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18945, 17 February 1925, Page 10

INFANTILE PARALYSIS.

. AUCKLAND NOTIFICATIONS, _ TEN CASES YESTERDAY. NONE REPORTED IN CITY. MAY BE PASSING TO COUNTRY. Ten more cases of infantile paralysis were notified in the Auckland health district yesterday; none being in the city area. Three were in the suburbs, t%vc at Mount Albert-, and one at New Lynn. The rest were in the country, two being at Taumarunui and one each at Hamilton, Ohura County, Waipa County, Whangarei, and Hobson County. The Bay of Plenty area has so far been particularly free. Despite the fact that Koto rail has been crowded during the last few months it has also escaped. This year 137 genuine cases of infantile paralysis have been recorded in the district." Tho total number of notifications is 157, but 20 cases, four in January and sixteen this month, later received different diagnosis. Tho total number of deaths to date is 29. The approximate ratio of deaths to cases in the Auckland district to date is 20 per cent. This is greater than it was during the epidemic of 1916, when the death rate in New Zealand was estimated at 10 per cent. The rate this year in the Auckland district is less than it was during the epidemic in New York in .1916. The world's percentage of deaths is estimated 'at between 10 and 22 per cent. Commenting on these figures, Dr. T. J; liughes, chief medical officer of health, stated the percentage of deaths to date in the Auckland district was quite high enough. ' " I"think the. epidemic is passing <?ut '-of the city area into the country districts," observed Dr. Hughes. " The figures speak for themselves. It is more than probable, however, that there will Continue to be an occasional case fn the city." Only one wesh case has been noti- " fieri in tho city area during the past five days. POSITION IN DOMINION. CASES FOR TWO DAYS. TOTAL OF TWENTY-ONE. EIGHT IN CANTERBURY. [BY XELEOSAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] WELLINGTON. Monday. During the 48 hours ended at 9 a.m., twenty-one cases of infantile paralysis were reported throughout tho Dominion as follows : ■ Wellington Citv 3, Patea 1, Nelson 1, Wanganui 3, Auckland 4, Canterbury 8. Ota go 1. SITUATION IN TARANAKI. FURTHER NOTIFICATIONS. ONE DEATH ON SATURDAY. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT. ] NEW PLYMOUTH, Monday. The infantile paralysis position in Taranaki is more serious. The majority of the cases are in South Tarariaki,: where nine have been reported, with one death, which occurred on Saturday. There are now eight cases in the Hawera Hospital, one being reported as serious, while the. condition of the others is satisfactory. There are two cases in the Stratford Hospital and both are making satisfactory progress. * . The town of New Plymouth is so far free from the epidemic. One victim has been in the New Plymouth Hospital for a few weeks, but the patient hails from Awakino, which is in the Waikato Hospital district. To-night the medical superintendent reported that two cases which have been definitely diagnosed as suffering from infantile paralysis have been admitted to the hospital, both being residents of Waitara and members of the same family. One is a girl aged two years and the other a girl three and & half years old. THE SOUTHERN DISTRICTS. A CASE FROM OTAGO. Press Association reports from Southern centres give the following particulars in regard to the infantile paralysis epidemic Taumarunui.-—Three cases of infantile paralysis were admitted to the local hospital during Saturday and Sunday. A bov, aged eyght (a serious case), is showing improvement. A boy, _ aged five, is serious, bat he is improving. A youth, aged 19 (not serious), is improving. Hawera. —The first death from infantile paralysis here is reported at the Hawera Hospital, the victim being' a child, two yearr t old admitted from Riverlea. Tvmaru. Three cases of infantile "paralysis were reported in South Canterbury to-day, including a young man, aged 21 years. Dunedin. —A case of infantile paralysis is reported at Alexandra, a child of five months old. The case has been isolated in; Clyde Hospital. Five contacts' have also been isolated." REPORTS FROM PROVINCE. WAIKATO AND WHANGAREI. . {By TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENTS.] HAMILTON. Monday. A farther case of infantile paralysis was notified to the Hamilton Borough ' health inspector during the week-end. The patient, a little girl, IJ,- years of age, resided in Te Aroha Street, Claudehutds, and was removed to the Waikato Hospital. , Notification has been received from Roto-o-rangi, in the Waipa County, that a boy, 2j years old, had contracted infantile paralysis. WHANGAREI. Monday. Another case of infantile paralysis was reported in Whangarei on Saturday, being a total of five since the outbreak. The patient is a male child, nine years old, whose parents reside in the township. I