INFLUENZA OUTBREAK.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20978, 15 September 1931, Page 10

INFLUENZA OUTBREAK.

STEADY COURSE NOTED. QUESTION OF DISINFECTION. No signs of an increased incidence of influenza in the city and suburbs have been noted in the past few days by Dr. T. J. Hughes, medical officer of health for Central Auckland. Dr. Hughes stated yesterday that the outbreak seemed to bo pursuing a fairly steady course. Information from many sources went to show that, although the total cases so far had run into hundreds, possibly thousands, no very large part of the population was laid aside at any one time. Inquiries at two large city establishments last week had shown that ono had about 20 employees away with influenza out of a total of 600. The other, with 500, had 50 away from all causes. This, Dr. Hughes considered, fairly represented the position. One further death had been reported as possibly due to pneumonic influenza, but there was no reason to think that the outbreak was increasing at all in severity. Dr. Hughes said he had been asked whether it was desirable that any routine disinfection of offices and other places of business should bo carried out. Hie answer was that personal precautions, such as isolation, gargling, and nasal douches were more important, because infection was mostly spread through contact with the breath of sick persons. It was doubtful if the germs could exist more than a few hours in the dust of a room. General routine disinfection, therefore, was not essential, but the flushing of rooms with air was desirable. If disinfection were resorted to, floors should be sprayed after working hours with a solution of loz. of formalin in one pint of water, or with a suitable solution of lysol.