The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED DAILY. THURSDAY, JANUARY 13, 1927. THE NEW FLU MENACE

Gisborne Times, Volume LXV, Issue 10304, 13 January 1927, Page 4

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED DAILY. THURSDAY, JANUARY 13, 1927. THE NEW FLU MENACE

It is satisfactory to learn that the Minister for Health has been making investigations into the question of the distribution and extent of the ’flu epidemic reported chiefly from Europe, but which has also not yet died out in North America. To be fore-warned should result in being fore-armed, if the Health authorities remain alive to the need for the taking of precautionary steps to prevent the dread disease again securing a footing in this Dominion. Seemingly, a report made on the subject by the High Commissioner is held to be of a re-assuring character, although it does not attempt to disguise the fact that ’flu is rife in Europe, and more especially in Switzerland and France. What will relieve anxiety in great measure is the announcement that the type of the disease now sweeping through Europe is said to bear no resemblance to that which took such a heavy toll throughout the world in 1918. If it be true that the latest

visitation affects most seriously people of advanced years then, as the Director of Public Hygiene points out, it differs very materially from the disease which proved fatal in such a large proportion of cases just over eight years ago, because on the earlier' occasion the victims included many people of robust constitution as well as infants and others well up in years. What was supposed in some quarters in 191 S was that the dreaded form of ’flu that descended upon New Zealand originated in the East and found its way hither via Australia. Well-known it is, of course, that liai’dly any country has, in recent years, been altogether free from ’flu in some form or another. In the circumstances, the Health Department has required to maintain a careful watch in order that, if an outbreak of a virulent type should again occur, measures to prevent its spread might at once he taken. Dr. McKihhon rightly says that ’flu is expected to develop in New Zealand most frequently during the- winter months, but he no doubt has in mind the more simple forms of the disease. The fact cannot he overlooked that the 1918 visitation came about in the summer months, with a greater number of deaths in proportion to cases than had ever previously been experienced, with, perhaps, the possible exception of an epidemic in the 70’s, which levied a very heavy toll, especially amongst the Native people, that could not be accurately estimated. What is further, the Director of Public Hygiene seeks to dissipate alarm by mentioning that the time taken on a voyage from Europe to the Dominion is very much greater than the incubation period of ’flu which is but a matter" of a few days. It is, however, To be trusted that his Department is not relying altogether on that circumstance as an insurance against

the re-introduction of the disease in to this country Very Afferent would be the position if this Dominion had the advantage only of direct shipping with Europe Thus for good reason, it behoves the authorities to keep in touch with interne iate ports so that vessels known to have been infected may be dealt with in a suitable manner on their arrival here.