CASES OF DIPHTHERIA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19932, 28 April 1928, Page 12

CASES OF DIPHTHERIA.

A VERY MILD FORM. DEVONPORT SCHOOL " CLEAN." The reported cases of diphtheria in the Devonport school are classed by tho Health Department as particularly mild in character. Dr. H. Chesson, medical officer of health, stated yesterday that six children had been under examination by local practitioners for soro throats, and that swabs submitted by them to the bacteriological department of the Auckland Hospital had indicated the presence of diphtheria bacteria. The samples were in no way virulent and need occasion no alarm. If it had not been for the bacteriological report the complaints would have been regarded' as nothing more serious than sore throats, to which a great many people were prone at this time of year. In fact, a bacteriological examination of a good many people at present suffering from colds would, he expected, give exactly similar returns, 1 All precautionary steps, however, had been taken. Dr. Chesson stated that in response to the request of a Devonport resident, who had suggested that the school, an old one, might in sonic way be* responsible for the epidemic, he had inspected the building and found the conditions perfectly satisfactory. It was a lofty building, standing well off the ground, the classrooms were dry, well-lighted and ventilated, and the accommodation was ample for all the scholars. The weekly notifications compiled by the department show the number of cases of diphtheria reported in the city and suburbs during two week is perfectly normal.