INFLUENZA EPIDEMIC

Otago Witness, Issue 3398, 30 April 1919, Page 25

INFLUENZA EPIDEMIC

THE AUSTRALIAN OUTBREAK. SYDNEY, April 23. New Zealanders stranded hero owing to the shipping restrictions are indignant at their treatment. They have cabled to the Mayor of Wellington asking for financial assistance on behalf of the women and children. April 24. The deaths from influenza in the metropolitan area show an appreciable decline in the past few days. Yesterday they fell to 16. The previous average for some time was over 30. In the country, however, it. is more virulent, and continues to spread. The Federal Health authorities tested cases to prove the efficacy or otherwise of inoculation. Two thousand of these were not inoculated, of whom 34 per cent, contracted the disease in a severe form, and 11 per cent. died. Of the 1150 inoculated, 16 per cent, contracted the disease severely, and 3 per cent. died. These figures satisfied the quarantine authorities of the value of the inoculation, both as regards contracting influenza in a severe form and the prospects of a fatal termination. J. Kirkwood, an ex-Sew Zealander, has placed his home at Brighton-le-Sands, at the disposal of fifteen stranded New Zealanders. April 25. As a result of the New Zealand quarantine restrictions the Union Company has decided to send passengers for Vancouver direct to Suva, where they will connect with the Vancouver steamer. The official figures concerning the influenza epidemic show that the deaths in New South Wales since January 1 total 516 males and 261 females. April 26. Revised figures show that from January to April 24 there were 974 deaths from influenza. • April 27. The week-end influenza position is somewhat easier, and there is a growing hope that the climax, so far as the metropolitan area is concerned, may have passed. Both the number of cases and the deaths have materially decreased. In the country, however, the disease continues to spread, and some towns are suffering severely. In Victoria the position tends to improve, though the daily death roll is still considerable.. In South Australia and Tasmania the a disease continues to claim a number of victims. The Queensland authorities are taking the strictest precautions, and so far have kept influenza confined to the visiting shipping. April 28. The Medical Council has decided to recommend the Cabinet to defer the question of lifting the influenza restrictions for a fortnight. This decision includes racing. The Cabinet will consider the matter to-morrow. MELBOURNE, April 23. As a result of the New Zealand quarantine restrictions, the owners of the Westralia have withdrawn her from the Mel-bourne-Wellington service. April 24. The Board of Public Health has recommended the abolition of the compulsory notification of influenza, on the ground that it is a too drastic interference with business, and that it leads to unnecessary panic. In reply to the question whether it could be assumed beyond question that the visitation was not Spanish influenza, the 'Chairman (Dr Robertson) said influenza was the same now as in the time of Hippocrates, but it was more virulent than it had been in former years. Every disease had its degrees of virulence. Another member declared that thousands of the cases reported were merely simple colds, and the notification was helping towards an unwarrantable panic. HOBART, April 26.

As a result of the quarantine restrictions the Government has chartered the steamer- Eiverina in order to relieve the serious position of Tasmania*! producers. SUVA, April 23.

The Niagara, from Auckland for Vancouver, has arrived with six stewards and one lady through passenger suffering from influenza. They were landed at Suva and quarantined. QUARANTINE RESTRICTIONS. * CHRISTCIIURCH, April 26. The Director of Quarantine at Melbourne' has cabled to the Government that vessels from New Zealand will now be admitted to pratique ill Australia on production of a certificate from the principal health authority _at the last port of departure stating that all persons on board had been examined (including the crew) and their temperatures taken, and that no influenza or suspicious illness was on board at the time of departure. Admission to pratique is also subject to quarantine inspection, and the release of the passengers and crew is subject to three days' daily surveillance.

The Hon. G. W. Russell, who made these facts public, stated that in the ordinary course of events no inspection of vessels leaving New Zealand took place regarding the health of those on board; but in view of the present position the Chief Health Officer had arranged with the various health officers at tho principal ports of departure of overseas vessels, and port health officers also should make an inspection of the passengers and crew of each vessel. This was not exactly a new departure, as from time to time different countries, including New Zealand, had asked for certificates, and the dominion had complied as far as possible with tho request. The shipping companies, Mr Russell added, preferred to pay any cost entailed by inspection, as it facilitated the entry of vessels at the other end.

APPEAL FROM SYDNEY. WELLINGTON, April 24. The Mayor received to-day the following cablegram from Sydney: —"Several women penniless waiting return. Can you influence financial assistance? Reply Government Office. (Signed) Kent." As Mr Luke

does not know who the sender is, he says ] ho cannot take notice of suoli an unofficial ! communication. Mr Luke went on to say: I "When, during the influenza epidemio here. Australians were stranded, money was found ! to maintain them, also for passages. This was done by the generous assistance of several citizens. Fifteen Australians, some wealthy, gave 1.0.U.'s for the amount advanced, but not one of those 1.0.U.'s has been redeemed." Mr Luke J;ho j matter of stranded New- Zealanders" one for i the Government. I

AUCKLAND April 24. There are no further developments at Motuihi, and all patients are reported to be making satisfactory progress. Five more patients aero released from quarantine today, leaving 12 still on the island. WELLINGTON, April 24. _ In connection with the erection of additional quarantine accommodation at Motuihi Island, the secretary of the Amalgamated Society of Carpenters and Joiners has sent the following telegram to tho Minister of Public Health : —"With reference to the demand for carpenters for work at Motuihi, will your department, in addition to award rates, pay the men full wages and medical expenses in case of sickness, and full compensation in case of "'death following on sickness contracted while on the island or within seven days of leaving there ?" April 23. The number of cases of influenza notified in the dominion during the period April 17 to 22 was 42, six being pneumonic, making a total for the week of 79, as against 112. for the previous week.

April 28. An extension of the time for the completion of the report of the Epidemic Commission has been decided upon. It is probable that the extension will be for a month.

CHRISTCHURCH, Awril 28. Tho Hon. G. W. Russell stated that there were 46 cases of influenza reported in the whole dominion, of which 15 were serious. Only three cases were notified in the South Island, and this seemed to show that the disease was stronger in the warmer climate, and negatived the theory accepted by the Health Department that a recrudescence of the" disease might be looked for as the cold weather came on. The indications might be regarded as favourable on this point.