CHILD PARALYSIS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22620, 7 January 1937, Page 11

CHILD PARALYSIS

AUCKLAND'S ONE CASE MAN NOT INFECTED INCIDENCE IN OTHER YEARS The small girl who was admitted to the Auckland Hospital last week is still the only ease of infantile paralysis in Auckland. No further notifications have been received by the Health Department, and the girl is reported to be improving steadily. A diagnosis of the inflammatory complaint suffered by the young man sent to the hospital on Sunday for observation has shown definitely that he is free from the disease. In order to assist in allaying the anxiety of parents who are fearing a serious outbreak of infantile paralysis in Auckland, it is pointed out by the health authorities that in the past, even in epidemic years, there have been remarkably few cases within Auckland Central —the highly populated areas — and that, provided there is no relaxation of the precautions already in force, there is no need for alarm. It is also stated that a few cases of infantile paralysis each year are by no means uncommon and that it is merely the outbreak of the disease in the South island this year which has caused so much attention to be given to suspected cases elsewhere. Last summer, for instance, there were two cases of infantile paralysis in Auckland, and for the last 10 years the average number of cases each summer, from December until April, has been over two. From 1926 the number of positive cases treated in Auckland has been 28. ASSEMBLIES POSTPONED OXFORD GROUP HOUSE-PARTY In a desire to avoid the assembly at central points of people from widely scattered districts, the Health Department is continuing its request that camps and conventions should not be held. As the incidence of the epidemic has not been checked to any marked extent, a national house-party planned by the Oxford Group for Christchurch next week, and a training school to be held at Auckland this coming weekend, have been postponed. The Methodist Bible Class leaders' camp to be held at Napier lias also been postponed. DEPARTMENT'S BULLETIN REPORTED CASES REVIEWED [BV TELEGRAPH PRESS ASSOCIATION] WELLINGTON, Wednesday A Health Department bulletin for the 24 hours ended at 9 a.m. to-day states that Dunediu reports that the following cases were admitted to hospital:—Two females, aged 10 and 20 years respectively, one from Waipori Falls and the other from Dunetlin, with some paralysis; two males, one aged two years, from Dunedin, and one aged 10, from Port Chalmers, positive, but not paralysed; two females, both from Mosgiel, one aged 21 years and one eight months, for observation. Two suspects were admitted to the Oamarti Hospital. One is considered negative and the other has not yet been diagnosed. Of the two suspected cases from Eltham admitted to the Hawera Hospital for observation one has been definitely diagnosed as not poliomyelitis, and the other is still doubtful. No notifications have been received from other places. TWO GIRLS AT OAMARU BOTH SUSPECTED CASES [BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION] OAMARU, Wednesday Two suspected cases of infantile paralysis were admitted to the Oaniaru Hospital yesterday. One patient, a girl aged two years, from Waiareka, who was admitted lor another complaint, is a doubtful case. The other case, a girl aged two years, from Kakanui, is also only suspect. POSITION IN DUNEDIN TWO MORE CASES ADMITTED [I)Y TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION] DUNEDIN, Wednesday Only two fresh cases of infantile paralysis were admitted to the Dunedin Hospital to-day. The patients, who are both slightly paralysed, are girls aged six and 15 years respectively, and come from the Dunedin district. The district medical officer. Dr. T. McGibbin, said to-night that, although over 100 cases had been admitted to the Dunedin Hospital since the beginning of the outbreak, only about 30 of these had shown positive signs of infection. seven being heavily paralysed, while the remainder were suffering from lighter degrees of paralysis Approximately 00 of the total admissions had been for isolation and observation, and when the requisite period had expired without the development of any positive indications of infection, they would be discharged.