INFLUENZA EPIDEMIC.

Otago Witness, Issue 3774, 13 July 1926, Page 57

INFLUENZA EPIDEMIC.

THE LOCAL POSITION. As far as Dunedin is concerned, influenza seems to have affected a comparatively small number, and those attacked appear to have :he complaint in a mild form. The Health Department has had no notifications of cases. Schools have been affected to no greater extent than is usual at this time of the year.

PREVALENT IN CHRISTCHURCH.

NOT OF SF.VERE TYPE. CHRISTCHURCH. July 5. Thirteen schools in the Canterbury Education Board’s district ve now closed owing to influenza, and more are to be closed shortly. It is estimated that of 280,000 peode in the Canterbury and Westland health district 80,000 are affected. July 6. Though influenza is paying an unwelcome visit to almost every home in Christchurch it is the opinion of the Medical Officer of Health (Dr T. Telford) that the outbreak will start to taper off this week. He said to-day that the influenza epidemio was probably at its height at present. There was ono case of pneumonic influenza reported during the last 24 hours. 'lnquiries to-day from business houses and factories showed that the staffs are still depleted, but there is no large increase in the number of influenza cases. It is just the normal typo of winter influenza which is most depressing to those who contract it. The outbreak seems to have spread over the whole of Canterbury and the West Coast. Only nine of the city schools remained open at noon to-day. the others all having been dosed because so many of the children had contracted either influenza or severe colds. Many of the country schools have also been closed, including, since yesterday. Woodend, Kaiapoi, Teddington and Rotherham. The following schools remained open to-day: Christchurch, West Klipwood, Phillipstown. Shirley, Somerfield, Waimairi, Waltham. Wharenui and Opawa. It is possible that the school torm holidays in August may be curtailed because of the dosing down at present

Dr T. F. Telford, Medical Officer of Health for Canterbury, to-day issued a warning to people who recently have recovered from influenza. In their consequent low condition of health, he stated, they were liable to contract pneumonia by such practices as standing about on damp football grounds and other places. Two fresh cases of pneumonia were reported this morning and a death from pneumonic influenza has occurred in Timaru. Of 25 public schools in, and immediately adjoining Christchurch, six are open to-day. This is a striking instance of the extent of the incidence of the disease. Dr Telford expresses the opinion that three or four days should witness the beginning of a decline in the incidence of the disease. July 8. Four cases of pneumonic influenza an I one death from that cause—all in the city —were reported up till noon to-day. Orlythree schools in the city area will be open to-morrow morning. The secretary of the Education Board says that next week it is expected that most of the schools will re-open. On Monday morning a further review of the position at the schools will be made. ■ The Mayor has published a notice inviting offers from persons “prepared to render assistance in the homes of the people laid aside by influenza. The assistance required is in respect of domestic duties for which those requiring such assistance are willing to pay. Up to this afternoon only one or two offers had been received. POSITION IN WELLINGTON. WELLINGTON, July 5. The ravages of the influenza epidemic are still being felt in Wellington, but things are better this week than last. Wellington College, which has had as many as 240 boys away with influenza, reported that the number was down to 102. Last week there was practically half the morning shift of tramwaymen absent, but many have now returned. It is also reported that us many as 100 men have been absent from the Petone railway workshops, but no confirmation of this has been obtainable. The municipal office staff has not been greatly depleted, but there was some difficulty in running the scavenging carts, as there has been a shortage of drivers. However, the cor* poration has carried on. INCREASE IN AUCKLAND.; AUCKLAND. July 6. Up till to-day the question of an influenza epidemic had aroused no great interest in Auckland. To-day, however, there was a sudden increase in the number of notifications of pneumonic influenza received by the Health Department. Two notifications were received from suburbs and seven from the country, making a total of nine for, one day. The previous total for the year was ouly 10, four of which were received on the first five days of this month. The majority of the cases are reported from the South Auckland district, and this fact is regarded as lending some support to the view that has been expressed that here is a tendency for an epidemic to spread from the south. The matter is not regarded as very serious, and the /iew is held that if proper precautions are taken, any grave consequences may bo obviated.. What really is giving most trouble in uiJic* land at present is the extended form of the usual epidemio of winter colds. These are than usually severe, and they generally have a touch of influenza associated . with them. Sore throats are frequently a feature of the trouble and some cases are marked by gastric symptoms, or by influenza pains in the back and limbs. The duration of the trouble is usually from three days to a week. , Colds aDoear to be of a mild type of influenza, but usually these are not severe enoush to keep people away from work. One leading drapery firm stated to-day that, although its employees were coming to work with red noses and hacking and lrritating coughs, the percentage of attendance was above the usual average for this period of the year. A large number of school children is affected by these colds, but up to the present there has been 8U^ es : tion to close any of the schools. The local bodies have been warned by the Health Deoartment to take the usual precautions and most of them have already complied with this advice.

MILD IN INVERCARGILL. INVERCARGILL, July 6. Invercargill continues to be free from cases of pneumonic influenza. There are one or two mild influenza cases among school children, but there have been no serious defections from the ranks of tne business and mercantile firms. POSITION IN HAMILTON. HAMILTON, July 7. Influenza is prevalent among adulte in Hamilton, the staffs of manv business establishments being depleted. The school attendances have not suffered to any, great extent. ,