INFLUENZA EPIDEMIC

Otago Witness, Issue 3397, 23 April 1919, Page 37

INFLUENZA EPIDEMIC

THE AUSTRALIAN OUTBREAK. SYDNEY, April 15. The Medical Consultative Council has advised the Government to withdraw the Regulation compelling the use of inhalation chambers, as evidence of its value in preventing infection is lacking, while the inhalations are found to produce injurious effects in some persons. The Government may entirely prohibit the use of the sulphate of zinc inhalant. Owing to the epidemic all the Easter excursion trains and the usual sporting and other gatherings have been cut out. April 16. The Government has decided to close the shops on Thursday night until Tuesday. It is hoped that a general cessation of business for four days will reduce the epidemic. The Medical Council has issued a warning against panic. It admits the seriousness of the position, but considers the mortality not extraordinary. There were 1950 cases admitted to the Sydney Hospital between February 1 and April 5, the deaths totalling 281; but it is pointed out that only the most serious oases are sent to the hospitals, and probably for every such case from 10 to 20 lees severe attacks, are treated outside. April 18. The Moeraki sailed at 7 last evening with cargo only. The passengers' paseage money was refunded, and all further bookings have been stopped. A prominent medico, who claims to speak on behalf of a substantial section of the city's practitioners, declares that masks and inoculation are useless against influenza; isolation is the only safeguard. April 20. This has been the worst week since the outbreak of influenza, there having been 230 deaths and over 1000 cases recorded. So far the general cessation of business does not appear to have affected the epidemic. This is the quietest Easter ever known, Instead of crowds being attracted by the show and races, the city is deserted. Most of the people are spending the holidays in the country. April 21. The deaths from influenza- for the weekend were 64, making a total to date of 695. MELBOURNE, April 17. The Hon. W. A. Watt (Acting Federal Prime Minister), in a message, says that the various States are not co-operating with the commonwealth as to quarantine regulations, but are threatening to divert tonnage to routes offering more continuous employment until the State Governments concerned are prepared to withdraw their quarantine regulations. April 21. There were 26 deaths from influenza during the week-end, making the total to date 1006. RESTRICTION ON SHIPPING FROM WELLINGTON, April 15. The Hon. G. W. Russell-made the following statement to-day with regard to the epidemic precautions:—All the information received from Australia indicates that . the epidemic in that country is gradually assuming more formidable proportions. In consequence of this the Chief Health Officer has reconniignded that all shipping from Australian ports to New Zealand should be entirely prohibited, and this recommendation has been approved by me. I regret that this course has become necessary, but in my opinion it is the one safeguard that can be employed at the present time. Almost every vessel now arriving in the dominion from Australia shows the necessity for precautions; and until matters assume a safer stage in Australia no othor course, it appears to me, is open to New Zealand but to take the action that is now taken. April 16. A statement regarding an amended policy of the Government with regard to shipping between Australia and New Zealand was made by the Minister of Public Health to a reporter to-day. "The shipping position arising out of the influenza epidemic has received further consideration," said the Minister,, "and the final decisions come to are as follow: Passenger traffic from Australia to New Zealand shall for the present be prevented as far as possible. Any passenger ships arriving here from ,„ Australia with passengers on board will be quarantined indefinitely, and the passengers will not be allowed to land. As this comes into- force from to-day, this decision, will apply to the Moeraki, timed to leave Sydney to-morrow with approximately 250 passengers and a crew of 100. It is not intended that cargo steamers shall bo interfered with. In view of the fact that New Zealand requires both coal and wheat from Australia, all cargo vessels will bo dealt with as necessity arises upon their arrival. If it be found that disease is on board, the vessel will be held for such time as maj be considered necessary. If, on the other hand, the ship is clean on arrival, pratique will be granted at the earliest possible moment. Vessels arriving from overseas, net from Australia, will be considered on their merits, provided they are not from an infected port, and they had clean bills of health when leaving the last ports of calj. "These decisions," said the Minister, "have been come to after most careful consideration. The possibility of demands on our available quarantine stations is such that at the present time no risk whatever oan be taken. There are coastal steamers, ■ a number of which havo been found to have influenza cases on board. For the infected ' crews of these vessels accommodation must be made at the quarantine stations. The waterside workers have not unnaturally taken up a strong stand in connection with the working of vessels that have disease on board. "The real anxiety of the department," said Mr Russell, "is that which arises from the possibility of one or more transports with large bodies of men on board arriving in an infected state. We must bold whatever space is available against such a contingency ; consequently, uithough- the Government cannot prevent shipping companies from bringing pas.-engcrs from Australia, the Government is to indicate that no consideration will be given to passengers who travel in spite of precautions being taken." April 19. A proclamation has been issued at the

instance of the Minister of Public Health declaring Australia infected under the terms of the Public Health Act.

THE NIAGARA. AUCKLAND. April 15. No fresh cases have occurred among tho Niagara's passengers at Motuihi to-day, and through passengers were released. The 46 patients at present on the island are mostly convalescent. April 16. i Tho waterside workers are discharging the Niagara's cargo. A number of first saloon passengers by tho Niagara complain that owing A,o insufficient accommodation at Motuihi they were subjected to ""a grave risk of contracting the disease: that the department had no right to send people ashore to an island totally unfit for the reception of siok people, placing them in buildings that were unfavourable in respect to health, and without having previously arranged for proper and sufficient accommodation, especially for women and children. Complaint is made that the tents were old, and contained holes that caused intense draughts. There were no wooden floors, and the damp ground caused some of the occupants to get rheumatic twinges. No one was provided with common toilet utensils, and no provision was made for hanging clothing in tho tents, The women found that their clothing got damp overnight and had to be dried in the sun. Proper quarantine was not carried out. There was no system of segregation, and the arrangements on the island were undoubtedly more favourable to the spread of the disease than to its prevention. Twenty-seven more passengers were released from quarantine to-day, leaving 26. Tho condition of three of the patients is reported to be serious. The remainder are progressing satisfactorily. WORK ON INFECTED VESSELS. WELLINGTON, April 16. The Port Health Officer issued a statement to the watersiders that the Riverina was now clean, and-work was resumed this morning and continued throughout the day. The vessel is expected to sail for Sydney on Thursday evening OHRISTCIIURCH, April 15. Th 3 Koromiko was released from quarantine this morning, no more influenza cases having developed. UNION COMPANY'S STEAMERS. CHRIBTCHUROH, April 16. The Union Company has acceded to the terms asked by trje watersiders for working the Koromiko and tho Tarawera at Lyttelton. These are full wages during tho time a man is laid up if he should contract influenza while working the vessel, and £SOO compensation in case of death. The watersiders are now working the Tarawera, and will start on the Koromiko as soon as men are available. OFFICIAL REPORTS. WELLINGTON, April 16. Between April 10 and 14 tnerc were 62 epidemic oases notihod to the'Public Heaitii Department, making a total for the weexe of 112. In the Auckland Health District there were 30, including six mild cases in the citv (four in one household) and three fairly severe cases. In the suburbs there are 12 mild cases, one pneumonic and one epidemio type. in Wnakatane there are two cases (severe). The remainder of the oases in Auckland district are nuld. In the Wellington Health District there is a total of 21 cases. In Wellington Hospital District there are six cases, two in the city (one mild pneumonic and one influenza severe), three at Kaiwarra, and one at Kilbirnie. At Napier there are two severe pneumonic cases and six mild. All the rest of the cases in the Wellington district are mild. In the Canterbury district there are nine cases, three mild cases in Christchureh city, one at Avonside, one pneumonic case at New Brighton, and four cases at Lyttelton, of which three are shipping cases, all mild. In Otago there were two oases in the Waitaki Hospital District, both mild, in the town of Oamaru. April 19. The Hon. Mr Russell states that the latest advice* from ihe health officers indicate that there are not so many serious cases in New Zealand as there were a little while ago, but he was not prepared to say that that indicated a general improvement. A large number of commercial travellers who wish to come to New Zealand are held, up in Melbourne, but the Minister says the present position in Australia prohibits any relaxation of the conditions. The present embargo on passenger traffic must be maintained. CASES IN NEW ZEALAND. AUCKLAND, April 15. Rumours having gone the rounds that new cases of disease were being discovered in Auckland, Dr Macguire, medical superintendent of the hospital, stated to-day that the only cases that have been admitted to the hospital were occasional patients suffering from the disease in a mild form, and there had been nothing to indicate that these were inereasincr in number. CHRISTCHURCH, April 15. When seen by a reporter to-day, Dr Chessoii, District Health Officer, stated that the health of tho community, judged by reports received by his department, was normal, and there was nothing to notify concerning influenza. THE EPIDEMIC COMMISSION. CHRISTCHURCH, April 15. With reference to the statement that the Minister of Public Health had asked the chairman of tho Epidemic Commission t:> exoedite the furnishing of the commission's report, so that any suggestions made therein mav be acted upon as soon as possible, it is "authoritatively stated that the Government lias been informed that the commission proposes to submit shortly to his Excellency an inter»m report on so much of tho subject matter of the order of reference as referred to "the best methods of prevcntir.s or dealing with such occurrences in future." SHOULD A RECRUDESCENCE OCCUR, HOSPITAL BOAE-DS MUST BEAR EXPENSE. WELLINGTON, April 16. Speaking of th-s intention of the Government regarding tho financing of another outbreak of influenza should one occur, tho Minister of Public Health said that wfcien the epidemic broke out last November it spread so rapidly that it was impossible to deal with it by ordinary means. Consequently emergency hospitals were established, and tho Government footed tho bill.

As far as could be ascertained, the expenditure was practically £200,000. If T recrudescence occurred the hospital boards would be required to accspt* this legal responsibility and to control the entire organisation in their respective districts. Also, the Government would not in any future e-pidemio foot the bill, as on the last occasion. Referring to the fact that. the Wellington Hospital Board had made provision in its estimates for a sum of £20,000 to deal with the epidemic, the Minister said there was no necessity to take that course. The Act provided that, in cases of a deficiency in the finances of a board for the purpose of meeting the expenditure for the year, the board might make, a supplementary levy on local bodies.