INFLUENZA.

Otago Witness, Issue 3618, 17 July 1923, Page 23

INFLUENZA.

NO INCREASE IN PNUEMONIO Cases. Mild influenza is still rather prevalent in and about. Dunedin and Otago general Ij, but appears to be somewhat abating in Southland. Fortunately, the number o£ pneumonic oases shows no serious increase. For the week ending Monday. Sth insl., there were nine cases of influenza remaining in the Dunedin Hospital, with one ease of acute primary pneumonia and seven cases of pneumonic influenza. There were two deaths from pneumonic influenza. During the week just ended five cases of pneumonic influenza were reported in the Otago district, three in the Southland Hospital district, and two in the Wallace Hospital district. (hie death was reported from Southland and one from Wallace. Public offices, factories, and warehouses, etc., have liean considerably inconvenienced by the influenza cases among their staffs. In the Dunedin Hospital several nurses have had to give up duty. Ihe telegiapil and telephone departments were seriously inconvenienced- Eight constables and two sergeants had to give up duty. At the Government railway workshops about 40 men were absent. The trouble has extended to the schools. Tho Boys’ High School reopened on Thursday with 158 boys out of a total of 580 and four masters were absent. 'lhe Girls’ High School has carried on despite the absence of several teachers and o 0 pupils. The King Edward Technical College had to close down during the week. The Education Board has been notified that the following schools have had to close down:—Kensington. Portobello, Alexandra, Clyde, Cromwell, Moa Creek, Ranfurly, Kyeburn. Waianakarua, Bidclutha, Awainako. Glenore, Chatto Creek, Blacks, Elderslie, Middlemarch, Lowburn Ferry, Duntroon, Kaitangata. On Saturday the medical officer of health (Dr T. MKibbin) reported that up till noon there had been, for 24 hours, five notifications of acute primary influenza, or pneumonic influenza, existing in the Otago district, one in Southland, one in Wallace, and one in Waitaki. One death is reported from Southland. There are now 23 in fluenza patients at present in the Duned'.n Hospital. Of these, five are on the dangerously ill list. Dr MKibbin points out that there is a good deal of misunderstand in o- existing in_ the mind of peopie as to the true position. The eases represent ordinary pneumonic cases for the winter period. Ordinary pneumonia was now notifiable, and was made so in 1913, about the time of the severe epidemic. When tiie present trouble broke out about a fortnight ago he had circularised ail the doctors in Otago and Southland notifying them of this, and the cases reported as a consequence were being placed on the list. There was quite a number of cases of pneumonia every year ; most of them occurring during winter time. There were 540 eases over the whole of New Zealand, and if an average was struck on a population basis, the Otago and Southland proportion would be 54. There had been no serious increase during the past few days, and there was now rather a decrease than an increase. Owing to the widespread nature of tho present outbreak of influenza, which frequently incapacitates whole households for a few days, considerable difficulty is being experienced in providing the necessary attention required by patients. The trouble Ls accentuated by the fact that a number of nurses usually available have themselves been laid aside. Anyone willing to render assistance is invited to communicate with the secretary of the St. John Ambulance Association, Old Fire Brigade Station, Octagon. Dr Irwin (Education Department) has given permission for two of the school nurses to co-operate with St. John Ambulance Association in carrying on nursing Work amongst the more serious cases. CASES AT PORT CHALMERS. Port Chalmers is sharing the general experience. a large number of the residents having been down for the past week or two. In some households several are ill, and in at least one case all the members of the family axe affected. The result has been apparent in reduced school attendances. There is expected to bo an improvement this week. CASES IN CENTRAL OTAGO. QUEENSTOWN, July 10. Influenza has got a hold here. Business places are working short-handed, and the schools have been closed owing to a big decrease in attendance. Fortunately the complaint is of a mild type. POSITION AT TIMARU. TIMARU, July ,0. A mild form of influenza is very prevalent amongst school children at Timaru, so much bo that the Boys’ High School was closed at noon to-day till Monday next. Ihore were 100 absentees. 20 being boarders. In the Girls’ High School the absentees were about 10 per cent., but it was not considered necessary to close. The Timaru Main School (primary) had 105 absent yesterday, but the position was slightly better to-day. Other town schools experienced the epidemic to a much lesser degree. POSITION IN CHRISTCHURCH. CHRISTCHURCH, July 12. Thirteen nurses at the Christchurch Hospital are laid up with influenza. I'he nursing staff at present numbers about 110. July 13. Pneumonic influenza is not making any serious headway. The epidemic broke out on June 24. The following tables show the number of cases and the number of deaths that have occurred since that date in the Health District of Canterbury and Westland : Cases. Deaths. Pneumonic influenza . 51 8 Pneumonia 24 2 Totals 75 10 “Tho maximum onslaught has been in the city.” said Dr Telford, District Health Officer. ITe has recommended the Education Board authorities to reopen all city and suburban schools on Monday. POSITION IN WELLINGTON. WELLINGTON, July 14. No influenza of a serious form has so far been reported in Wellington, hut in its lighter phase it lias affected school child-

ren largely. Some adults are suffering from the gastric form of the epidemic, which is a little more unpleasant. CASES IN AUCKLAND. (From Our Own Correspondent.) AUCKLAND, July 15. Whilo the spread ot influenza has reached no very serious proportions in Auckland the medical officer of health (Dr Hughes) stated last evening that the ordinary type was fairly general. One case ot pneumonic influenza was notified yesterday, ihe disease in a mild form is spread over a wide area, and the staffs of many city businesses have been depleted to a varying extent. No fewer than 21 members of the staff of the Bank of New Zealand were absent from business yesterday. The position at the grammar schools yesterday was somewhat worse than on the previous clay. At the Main School the roll call showed that 280 boys were absent, while two masters were down with the complaint, and a number of boys in attendance were suffering from colds. An increase in absentees was revealed at tho Mount Albert Grammar School, where 105 boys and one master were unable to attend. The position at King’s College on the other hand., was reported to have improved, and at King s School. Remuera, there was no sickness beyond some cases of chickenpox. 1 nere w’as also a falling off in the attendances at the schools under the Eduoation Board, most, of the absentees beino- detained at their homes by influenza and colds, and some by chickenpox. PREVALENCE TV NEW SOUTH WALES. SYDNEY, July 10. Influenza in a mild form is prevalent in Lithgow. The cement works’ office staff, works’ employees, and coal miners are affected to such an extent as to seriously retard production.