INFLUENZA OUTBREAK.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19383, 19 July 1926, Page 10

INFLUENZA OUTBREAK.

PEAK REACHED IN AUCKLAND.

MEDICAL OFFICER'S OPINION.

SMALL INCREASE IN CASES,

" I think the outbreak of influenza has reached its peak because it is now dying away in those districts which it, first attacked," said a medical officer of health on Saturday. "In South Auckland, for instance, there were 12 cases of pneumonic influenza last week and this week the number has dropped to eight." Six cases of pneumonia and one of pneumonic influenza were reported to the Health Department on Saturday, covering the whole of the Auckland Province. The case of pneumonic influenza as located in the Herne Bay district. Of the pneumonia cases, two were from Thames district, three in the city and one at Pukekohe. B"our deaths from pneumonic influenza were also reported One occurred m the city, one at Hamilton and two at Te Kuiti. These were cases which had been reported to the department some time • ago.

The reassuring fact that the epidemic is not spreading to any serious extent is indicated by the comparative figures for the past two weeks. Last week in the Auckland Province 32 cases of pneumonia and 26 of pneumonic influenza were reported, as against 10 and 20 respectively in the previous week. The deaths from pneumonic influenza last week were eight compared with six in the previous week.

The returns for the city show there has bep.ii a comparatively small increase in the number of cases of pneumonic influenza. Large numbers of school children are still confined to their homes, most of them with mild influenza. They should all be able to resume their work within a week or two. BENEFIT OF MODERN SCHOOLS. EXPERIENCE IN CHRISTCHURCH. [BY TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT. ] CHRISTCHURCH. Saturday. The educational authorities in Christchurch have found that the 'schools least affected by the influenza epidemic are those of more recent construction, which are sunny and well-ventilated, and where ;there are no draughts, plenty of fresh air and even warmth all day long. The secretary of the Canterbury Education Board, M. C. R. Kirk, said today that the Phillipstown School, a modern building, had not been closed during the epidemic. The West Christ;churcn School, another up-to-date establishment, had been closed for only a little while. The Opawa. School afforded : an even more striking example of the increased safety of children housed under modern school conditions. The infant department was situated in an old school building and during the epidemic the attendances had been less than half. The other grades. in the school were housed in a new and up-to-date building and <75 per cent, of the school roll had been maintained.