CHILD PARALYSIS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22628, 16 January 1937, Page 9

CHILD PARALYSIS

DUNEDIN IMPROVEMENT TOTAL OF 124 CASES TO DATE [BY TELEGRAPH —FRESS association] DUNEDIN, Friday The gradual improvement in the epidemic of infantile paralysis which has been apparent during the past week was continued to-day, only one doubtful case being admitted to hospital. Th<? patient was a girl, aged five years, from Jlaclaggan Street. The total number of notified cases since the beginning of the epidemic is now 124, and in 33 cases paralysis in varying degrees has been evident. The medical "officer of health, Dr. T. McKibbin, stated that since December 28, when the peak of the epidemic appeared to have been reached, there had been a steady decrease in the number of cases. This had been •particularly noticeable during the past I week, when fewer cases had been adj mitted, and there was also a lessening | in the severity of affection. However, it was impossible to give any indication of what the future progress of the epidemic might be. Notification was given to-day by the Department of Health that the s v'aool | dental clinics in Otago and Southland, j which were to have been reopened on January 19, would remain closed until further notice. The training centre in Wellington for girls will also remain closed..

A suspected case of infantile paralysis was notified from the Balclutha district to-day. The patient, a small boy, was removed to the Balclutha Hospital. This is the second case in South Otago, a man aged 20 having been admitted to hospital on Tuesday.

OHRISTOHTJRCH SUSPEOT TOURIST CRUISE PRECAUTIONS , [BY TELEGRAPH —PUESS ASSOCIATION] CHRISTCHURCH, Friday After an interval of some days another suspected case of infantile paralysis has been admitted to the Christ-church Hospital for observation and diagnosis. It is expected that the diagnosis will be made to-morrow. The patient is a boy aged six years from the suburb of Sydenham. When the Maunganui arrives at Lyttelton later this month on a tourist cruise, children on the vessel 'will not be allowed to land, although adidt passengers will be allowed ashore. Notice has been given by the health officer to the Union Steam Shjp'Company that, as the vessel will be arriving from Port Chalmers, these precautions will be rigidly enforced.

FIRST EAST COAST CASE YOUNG WOMAN AT ROTORUA [BY TELEGBAPH —OWN CORRESPONDENT] ROTORUA, Friday The first suspected case of infantile paralysis in the Bay of Plenty district ' is that of a rectently-married woman, aged about 19 years, who was admitted to the Rotorua Hospital today for observation. So far there is no definite knowledge that it is a positive case, but the precaution has been taken of isolating the husband. The couple arrived in Rotorua only a month ago from the Wanganiii district.

POSITION IN AUCKLAND CASE UNDER OBSERVATION No further cases of infantile paralysis have been reported in Auckland, but a young man suspected to be suffering from the disease was. admitted to the Auckland Hospital on Thursday. It was stated yesterday that he did not appear to bo a positive case, but lie was being kept under observation. . The condition of the three mi)d positive cases, a small girl and two young men, is stated to be satisfactory, i'hev have made good progress, and there is 110 actual paralysis in any of them.