INFLUENZA PRECAUTIONS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3805, 15 February 1927, Page 17

INFLUENZA PRECAUTIONS.

DEPARTMENT’S INSTRUCTIONS. WELLINGTON, February 10. In order to clear up apparent misunderstandings as to the delay in the granting of pratique to the steamer lonic, which arrived at Auckland on Tuesday, after cases of influenza on board had occurred in the course of the voyage, the Minister of Health (the Hon. J. A. Young) defined the requirements of his department in the matter. Mr Young stated that on January 10 the Director-general of Health, acting upon the Minister’s authority, wrote to the medical officers of health’ at Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin, instructing them that, while there was every reason to hope that the recent winter outbreak of influenza would be a protection against the epidemic now raging in Europe, it was well to make sure that everything was in readiness to guard our own frontiers against any importation of infection, and. to deal, with any local outbreaks which might occur. The Director-general of Health added that he was directed to ask.the medical officers of health to arrange' to convey to port health officers, among other things, the following instruction:— ’ If on arrival any ship .is found to be infected, or gives a history of some severe infection on board, no matter at what stage of the voyage, pratique shall be withheld in such cases. The port health officer shall report the facts to the medical officer of health, who shall personally investigate matters, telegraphing to the head office a brief statement as to the position and his recommendations for the action to be taken with the ship. The Directorgeneral, on receipt of this information, will advise whether pratique is to be granted, or whether full, or part, quaran- . tine measures are to be imposed. The Minister said that he considered that was the proper thing to do. The .Director-general of Health was the head of the department, and was, as it were, the general manager of a large business concern whose duty it was to be in touch

with al! important actions concerning the business. “I cannot imagine,” said Mr Young, any efficiently and well-managed corporation expecting to carry on success "illy when the general manager is not kept fully and promptly advised of all matters of importance affecting the policy and 'aamniistraTtan laid down by his directors. The general manager must essentially be held responsible for the consequences of the actions of his subordinate officers. That is what has been done in this case. The Minister has not interfered with the powers of the medical officer of health working jn conjunction with the port health officer, as in this case instructions clearly set out in the memorandum of-January 10. Ordinarily medial officers of health .have full power to grant pratique on arrival, but I consider that, in view of the reported prevalence and seriousness of the influenza epidemic in Europe, the present circumstances are extraordinary and warrant the. utmost caution, and justify the restrictions imposed with a view to giving as far as possible, adequate protection to the public.