THE COLONIST. MONDAY, APRIL 14, 1919. INFLUENZA.

Colonist, Volume LXI, Issue 15046, 14 April 1919, Page 4

THE COLONIST. MONDAY, APRIL 14, 1919. INFLUENZA.

It must be admitted by people who are the least likely to form or be influenced by alarmist ideas that those :©immunities- which are- placing themselves in as advantageous a position as possible to meet a recrudescence of the influenza epidemic are acting with commendable prudence. The epidemic of last year took the Dominion in its grip suddenly, and owing to the failure to profit by the experience of other countries it found us in no shape to | .grapple with it effectively at the outset. Voluntary aid organisations and .other extraordinary measures to cope with the situation had to be got together almost at the crux of the emergency, when organisation had become difficult. That experience proved the wisdom of giving heed to the first alarm and adopting most stringent precautions a.t the outset. There has been ample medical warning, borne out by experience elsewhere, that an epidemic of influenza is more than likely to be followed by a second wave, possibly of lesser virulence, within a comparatively brief period. In view of these warnings the occurrence of numerous cases of influenza is naturally arousing apprehension. It is true that the majority of the cases are reported to be mild, but the proportion of gases of the epidemic type, widely scattered throughout the Dominion, indicates either that the disease was not entirely exhausted after the last epidemic, or that it has been reintroduced. The presence of infection on ships arriving from oversea ports gives weight to the latter theory. It should be unnecessary after last year's experience to urge upon the authorities the necessity for taking strong measures at the beginning rather than when the disease has secured a substantial footing. They are no doubt fully alive to their responsibili-' ties, but it is to be noted that the Auckland people are by no means enthusiastic about the quarantine arrangements adopted there in connection with infected vessels. There is no occasion for panicj but there is every necessity for insisting upon the observance of all reasonable precautions. I