MEASLES CASES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23117, 16 August 1938, Page 10

MEASLES CASES

STILL MANY VICTIMS STAFFS OF CITY FIRMS COUNTRY AREAS FREER Little decline has become apparent in tho past week in the number of people, both adults and children, who are victims of measles in Auckland. In country areas, tho position generally is reported to be a little better, although in some districts so many children were ill that it was necessary to close one or two small country schools. Out of a total of 3787 employees of eight largo city firms, 112 were absent yesterday as a result of measles, according to statistics compiled by tho Health Department in Auckland. This is equal to a trillo under 3 per cent, rather more than last week, when tho figure was under 2 per cent. One firm alone, with 718 employees, had 50 away yesterday, an improvement on last week's return, when tho same firm had 60 employees absent. » Measles patients .admitted to the Auckland Hospital during the week totalled 14. Of these, nine were suffering from ordinary measles, and fivo from the German type, and fivo of tho 14 cases were classified as complicated. Nurses of tho Health Department staff report fewer cases of measles in country areas. Tho satisfactory position that existed at Pukekohe, Tauranga and Paeroa last week has been jvell maintained.

Although detailed returns are not kept, records in the possession of the Education Board suggest that the incidence ol' the outbreak among school children is much the same as last week. Numerous reports of depleted attendances have been received by the board during the past week, and there have also been messages to indicate, in isolated cases, that there were not sufficient children present to warrant keeping tho school open. Only one such report came from within the Auckland health district.

NORTH AUCKLAND OUTBREAK FEW CASES OF SERIOUS NATURE [BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION] WHANGAREI, Monday "Reports received this morning show that the measles epidemic in North Auckland is definitely on the wane," said Dr. C. B. Gilberd, medical officer of health for North Auckland, to-day "Although there are still a number of mild cases, there are few of a serious nature." The Mangapai School was closed this morning until after the school holidays, there being only seven pupils attending. Referring to the chicken-pox outbreak in the Whangaroa County, Dr. Gilberd said that this was subsiding and the cases had been confined to one settlement. "Generally speaking the health of tho white section of the population has been remarkably good this winter," said Dr. Gilberd. "Unfortunately the same cannot be said of the Maoris, as among these, due largely to the lowered resistance on account of the_ rather severe measles epidemic, there is much more sickness than is usual even at this time of the year."