HEALTH OF COMMUNITY

Taranaki Daily News, 20 January 1933, Page 11

HEALTH OF COMMUNITY

disease on decrease POSITION IN NEW ZEALAND. THE INCIDENCE OF INFLUENZA.

“The past Y €ar has been a fortunate one in its comparative freedom from infectious disease in New Zealand,” said Dr. T. McKibbin, Director of Public Hygiene of the Department of Health. “For some time,” he said, “the figures have shown a tendency toward reduction, a condition which we hope will be permanent. In quite a few instances there is a reason to believe that such a condition will become permanent if the people live up to a certain hygienic standard. The modern demands for good water supplies, sound drainage, good food and plenty of fresh air and sunshine are factors likely to bring about permanency in these satisfactory returns.” Dr. McKibbin said that the total number of Cases of notifiable diseases for 1932 in the Dominion was 3685, . as compared With 5013 in 1931. The chief diseases Cf the notifiable

INFLUENZA EPIDEMICS. x Dr. McKibbin said that a moderate form of influenza was at present affecting the Northern Hemisphere, and particularly England, and it was possible that some reflection of it might-be experienced in New Zealand during next winter.. From the newspaper reports it was gathered that the epidemic in Britain was of a moderate type, and With the greater immunity which existed in a country like New Zealand it might be very light, if it came at all. Such epidemics, however, did have the effect of leaving in their train bronchitis and other lung troubles. “The worst form of influenza, such as that experienced in New Zealand to November, 1918, arose, I believe, out of conditions supervening on the war in Europe,” said Dr. McKibbin. “With the good building up we have in New Zealand, establishing to some extent an immunity, it is scarcely likely to be repeated. You will, remember that some authorities who support the wave theory bfilidved that there WOUld be another epidemic five years later, but it never ; came/ though I-N&itf' 2eolffiid Was’’ on its toes over the matter. TWO SCHOOLS OF THOUGHT. “There are two distinct schools Of thought in connection with these epidemics. -One- is -that- practical immunity can be established’ by building up against it in our life habits, conditions of living, good food, fresh air, etc. That is the theory held by Sir Truby King in respect . to' children. Give him the children youngs enough to be- reared according to his principles, and he can practically' guarantee- immunity from disease, in the same Way as similar principles are applied to young plant life. The other school believes in the wave theory, holding that, certain epidemics will recur after a time—that a people will become immune for a time by experience of the disease, but after that period is up another wave may come along.” Dr. McKibbin was pleased to see such a decrease in the puerperal fever figures for the year. Referring to hydatids, the director said this was a worm trouble peculiar to a few countries—New Zealand, Iceland, Uruguay and to some extent Australia. It was rare on the Continent of Europe and was a curiosity in England. It was a worm disease taken from dogs, and invariably found in sheep countries. Though it was rare, as the figures showed, it was a danger to children, and the Agricultural Department was doing good work in advising farmers to be careful, and abattoir authorities to take reasonable precautions where there are offal and dogs, about. This disease used to be much more prevalent than it is at the present time, it having been common for the larger hospitals to have several cases for treatment at the same time. Nowadays there was very little of it about.

Infantile paralysis was a very difficult disease to combat. It usually occurred in the summer time, as it did last year, when, of the 148 cases reported, 104 occurred during the summer of 1931-32. This year the figures were much better, and as summer was now well advanced it looked as though there would not be much of it. Only seven cases were reported for November, and seven for December last.

order were:— 1932. 1931. .... 829 1304 Diphtheria .. .... 802 1327 .... 24 247 Typhoid .... 185 . 161 Tuberculosis ........ .... 912 1109 Puerperal fever .... .... 92 160 Abortions .... 136 133 17 21 TTyrlatids 36 59 Infantile paralysis 25 148