INFLUENZA IN SCHOOLS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20982, 19 September 1931, Page 10

INFLUENZA IN SCHOOLS.

MANY PUPILS ABSENT. THE DANGER, OF RELAPSE. BRIDGE PARTIES POSTPONED. The influenza epidemic has seriously affected school attendances, classes in city schools being depleted 14 to 22 per cent. Many of the children have been away for over a week and some of those who went back to school too soon after their illness suffered a relapse and were obliged to return home. The frequency with which relapses set in appears to be a feature of the present epidemic and calls for the greatest caution on the part of convalescing patients. Of the 920 pupils on the roll of the Auckland Grammar School, 70 were absent on account of influenza last Tuesday. The number increased yesterday to 104, or 11 per cent. It is the first time this year that the attendance has been affected, the roll hitherto having been maintained at a strength of 97 per cent. At the Mount Albert Grammar School 140 pupils are absent through influenza out of a roll of 640, or 22 per cent., while at the Takapuna Grammar School over 90 pupils are away out of a roll of 470, or 19 per cent. Very few serious cases have been reported. City offices, warehouses and factories still ojiorate under difficult conditions owing to the depiction of staffs, but ou the whole a slight improvement was noticeable yesterday. The epidemic has had a dampening effect on social activities of many kinds in the city and suburbs. Bridge afternoons and evenings are being freely postponed, children's parties abandoned and numerous indoor and outdoor functions and games deferred until the epidemic passes. Of 16 bridge invitations sent out by one Remuera hostess no less than 10 were declined at the last moment on account of influenza attacking either the guests or members of their families.