THE NEW INFLUENZA.

Waikato Times, Volume 102, Issue 17008, 22 January 1927, Page 8

THE NEW INFLUENZA.

CLEAN-UP WEEK

NEED FOR PRECAUTIONS. "It is all very well for the Government medical authorities to say that It not likely that Iho latest Influenza plague .will comn to New Zealand,” said a prominent citizen to a Dominion reporter, "but in view of past experiences 1 should say that it was morn than likely thatiit will come along in duo course, and it behoves the authorities, local as well as Government, to do what lies in their power to prevent the most serious conseaucncos.

"With the experience of November, 1918, as a practical guide, it may perhaps bo remembered to what source the invasion of that epidemic was allegedly traced, and to take the most rigid precautions in the ease of vessels arriving from overseas. To bury one’s head in the sand, and say the plague will not come to New Zealand, is scarcely the way of meeting the threatened trouble, which may or may not he as serious as the 1918 visitation. The matter should be taken in hand at once by local authorities, and, at least skeleton organisations set up to meet, the possible trouble. “This morning’s cable message said that the havoc in Spain was more than in 1918, and if the germ of the disease is air-born, (as it was generally conceded to he, owing to its appearance in isolated islands, but seldom visited by vessels of any kind), it follows that a recurrence is not only possible, but highly probable. "This is a matter which concerns every local body in the country, and whilst having no intention of raising an alarm. I believe it is their duty to bring about a thorough cleansing of the city, a wholesale burning of all accumulated rubbish, and also to institute a vigorous anti-rat campaign. If this were done in February, it would reassure many people, particularly in in view of the fact that large assemblies of people will he common throughout the Dominion during the coming visit of the Duke and Duchess of York.” Consulted as to the matter above mentioned, Councillor T. Troup, chirman of the Health Committee of the City Council, stated that the outlook in Europe certainly appeared to be serious, and he could not, in view of past experiences, accept the assurances of the Government officers, that the epidemic would not reach New Zealand. Indeed, he was inclined to believe from his travels round the world that on the occasion of the last visitation, New Zealand suffered as badly as anywhere. There was to be a meeting of the Health Committee of the council early next week, when the matter would be considered, and, u it was thought necessary, preventive measures would be taken. . Councillor 11. D. Bennett, late chairman of the Health Committee, was also of the opinion that it would be wrong to be unprepared to meet any emergency of the kind. He could no conceive how anyone could say tn<u this epidemic could not come to New land and was of the opinion that they should consult the Government medical authorities on the matter, if it were only to safeguard the community from a probable contingency of a serious character.