CHILD PARALYSIS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22618, 5 January 1937, Page 11

CHILD PARALYSIS

NO FRESH CASES POSITION IN AUCKLAND PRECAUTIONS BEING TAKEN No further cases of infantile paralysis were reported to the Auckland health authorities yesterday and the condition of the four-year-old girl who was the first in the city to contract the disease is still regarded as satisfactory. A young man, aged 24 years, who was admitted from Ponsonby on Sunday as a suspected case, is being kept under observation. Although a few picnics are still being cancelled or postponed and organised camps are being discouraged, it is considered that the precautions already taken, provided parents and children co-operate with the medical authorities, are sufficient to protect Auckland from an outbreak of the disease. It is emphasised, however, that the congregation of children indoors should be rigidly avoided. Plenty of out-door exercise without over-fatigue is still recommended as the best preventive. REOPENING OF SCHOOLS DECISION YET TO BE MADE BRITISH COLUMBIA EXPERIENCE Owing to the fact that cases of infantile paralysis have now been reported oxer a much wider radius, the question whether the schools are to reopen at the normal time in February will probably have to receive consideration. It is too early as yet for any authoritative statement to be made on this point, although it is understood that the position is to be closely watched in the meantime. The fact that at least a fortnight must elapse after the last case is reported before an "all clear" signal can be given, adds to the difficulty of the health officers in stating that the danger is past.

An Auckland schoolmaster of considerable experience said yesterday that in his opinion it would he a mistake to defer the opening of the schools beyond the due date. "I believe we should all support the Health Department, but 1 ask its officers to consider the question from every before a decision is made," the headmaster said. "At the time of the last epidemic the schools were closed for several weeks and it was impossible for teachers and pupils to make lip the time lost, especially in the study for the matriculation and other important examinations. I shall never forget that year and what a terrific trial it was to teachers and pupils. "However, that as|>ect of the problems could he placed on one side if one were sure that it was vital to the health of the children that the schools should be closed. But some of us are not certain that it is. I have been told that British Columbia affords interesting evidence of the manner in which epidemics likely to affect children can be fought. They were unfortunate enough to experience a series of epidemics and the schools were being closed ou each occasion with dire effects on the children's education.

"Eventually it was decided to keep the schools open. The teachers were instructed concerning symptoms and tliey kept a careful eyo on each child. After roll call, the names of absentees were notified to the health officer and he immediately made a call at the absentee's home. In addition, medical officers were available to visit the schools. It was found that the teachers were more conscientious regarding the children than many parents and suspicious cases were treated at the inception of the trouble rather than days afterward.

"If one visits any beach or park now, any number of children can be seen playing together. It is apparent that the parents are not keeping their children segregated and if the British Columbia .system were tried, I am sure the results would be better than they would be if the schools were kept closed indefinitely and children allowed to roam at will. They would certainly be in less danger."

HEALTH CAMPS I 1 FURTHER POSTPONEMENT \ The ban imposed by the Health Department against the holding of children's camps owing to the risk of a widespread epidemic of infantile I paralysis has not yet been relaxed. As I a result a further postponement has been made in the holding of the Community Sunshine Association's camp at Motnihi Island. The president of the association. Sir 1 George Richardson, has received advice from the Director-General of Health, Dr. M. H. Watt, that it is not possible at present to indicate when children's health camps can be held. However, the department will make an announcement as soon as the position throughout the Dominion warrants the raising of the present restrictions. Sir George stated yesterday that, in keeping with the department's ruling, the opening of the Motnihi health • camp would be further postponed until February 1. Subject to the approval of the Health Department, 200 children would then be sent to the camp, where they would stay for three weeks. They would be followed by other parties of similar strength, each occupying the camp for three weeks, the final camp closing in May. As the camp season has had to be curtailed, thp association proposes to limit the admissions strictly to children classified by the examining medical officers in category "C." One half of the children will be selected from the city and the other half from country districts. It, has been decided to postpone the opening of the "Waikato Children's Camp League's camp at Port Waikato until February 1. The league had made arrangements to entertain 200 children at Port Waikato as from this week. CASE IN NEW PLYMOUTH PATIENT DANGEROUSLY ILL [BY TBI.ECiH APH —PRKSS ASSOCIATION] NEW PLYMOUTH, Monday The patient who was admitted to the New Plymouth Hospital yesterday | suffering from infantile paralysis, a married man aged 27, is to-day dangerously ill. MORE HOPEFUL OUTLOOK ADMISSIONS IN DUNEDIN [BY TKLEGIIAPH —PRKSS ASSOCIATION'] DUXEDIN, Monday The heartening position of the last few days with regard to the number of admissions to hospital of infantile paralysis cases was maintained to-day, there being only one person admitted. The patient was a man 21 years of age, from Woodhaugh, but the case has not boon diagnosed as positive, the admission being for observation only. Since 9 a.m. on Saturday only three cases have been admitted, one positive and two for observation. All are persons over the age of 21 years.