INFANTILE PARALYSIS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21117, 26 February 1932, Page 8

INFANTILE PARALYSIS.

PREVALENCE OF DISEASE.

CASES IN SOUTH ISLAND.

ADVICE GIVEN TO PARENTS.

[B* TELEGRAPH. —SPECIAL REPORTER.] "WELLINGTON. Thursday.

Questioned regarding the prevalence of infantile paralysis cases- in the Dominion, the Minister of Health, the Hon. J. A.Young, said to-day although the disease could not bo described as epidemic, yet it was more widely distributed and moro prevalent than at any time since 1925. For the week ended noon on Monday/ for instance, a total -of eight cases and two deaths had been reported. These cases had all occurred in the South Island, six of them in the North Canterbury health district and one each in Otago and Southland. The cases, so far as could be determined, had no contact or association with one another, and it would appear that the virus of the disease at present was fairly widely distributed throughout the community. The medical officers of the department had informed him that parents would be well advised to consider the possibility of this disease whero any members of the household, particularly children, contracted an illness marked by feverish conditions, headache or gastric upset. The department urged that patients presenting such symptoms should be strictly isolated and eatirig utensils should La sterilised by boiling, pending the calling in of medical advice. The use of serum offered tho most encouraging results in the early stages of the illness, but if medical attention was delayed too long, the chances of recovery would be seriously jeopardised.

The Minister said lie had asked (ha department to issue a detailed statement for guidance of the public and it was hoped that this would be available in the next few days.