EPIDEMIC COMMISSION

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIV, Issue 10207, 18 February 1919, Page 6

EPIDEMIC COMMISSION

OPENED AT AUCKLAND MEDICAL EVIDENCE. .... press Association. ’ AUCKLAND," February 17. " ■ Thb"Epidemi.c Comihission opened in Auckland to-day. , The president. Sir John Denuiston, said they had arranged to open the commission in Auckland r.s apparently the place where the recent epidemic was first recognised in its virulent form and the place wHe’re matters described In ,the commission, as “all matters connected with the arrival in New Zealand waters of the Niagara and Makura in respect to their bearing on the introduction or extension of the epidemic” actually occurred. They pro-posed-in-the "first place to take evidence as to the ’condition of the health of Auckland in reference to influenza before and up to the arrival of the Niagj ara. Dr. Thomas Hughes, District Health Officer at Auckland, said that until recently influenza was not a notifiable disease. Certain medical bfficerS ’attached to* the'department had furnished reports ‘showing - fhat" influenza had been present in Auckland throughout the year and was most in ..evidence from Juno onwards. A case that had come under his notice particularly was that of a middle-aged woman whoso symptoms’ were those of a severe form of influenza, including loss of voice. This case had come.under, his, notice the same, , day, that he went' aboard the Niagara. ... . : vln--,.answer,,- chairman, Mr. Hughes said .that ..the general, health of Auckland for a year, up to tbo time of the epidemic had been good, except with,- regard to diphtheria -and spinal «eoi«gitis/'O?'-whioh''th«ro | shad been an increase as'comparod-wtth-1017. Dr. 'Maguire, -medieai'-Mi pertitoa<iont of the Auckland Hospital, stated that prior to* October 12 th—the date of the Niagara's, arrival—no case of influenza had been admitted to the hospital for tone- months— -Thoreawore.certainly no deaths iu- the- -hospital- -from-, influenza for- some months before that date. Nothing but serions'cases would-be sent to the hospital. Ho had not heard of cases of pneumoaic influenza outside the hospital up to October 12th. The first cases of influenza were admitted to' thb hospital oh October 12th, when *25“ patients were brought in from the Niagara: 'As far aS he"could remember they were all members of ..the crew. Three of the cajses were suffering from a severe form of influenza and bronchialpneumonia. On October 13th six more patients were admitted-from the Niagara, one of them being, very bad with bronchial-pneumonia. On October 21st two nurses from the Niagara were admitted. These were all cases, totalling 37, that had come to tho hospital from the Niagara. Only two of tho-Niagara patients' died. One of .them, was a nurse and tho other one of tho crew. Tho latter'was an interesting case. It was that of a-fireman on the-boat, a returned soldier who had been gassed, and was therefore more liable to contra fit disease: —TheHotal-mimboi’- of admissions • for influenza to ■ the - hospital during the epidemic from October 12tb till December 14tli was 845 . The number of deaths'during that period among these patients was 188. - was an ordinary enso of itifluonzfi admitted to hospital on October 12th. Besides those from the Niagara, Dr. Maguire said he had hoard that influenza - was present at Narrow Nook camp before October 12th and it was decided to obtain evidence on this point. _ The court then adjourned.