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These figures show the progressive increase in deaths from
influenza, and in notifications and deaths from pneumonia from
28th December, 1952 until 14th February, 1953; and the welcome
decrease in all columns during the week ended 21st February—
the last week for which figures are available. From 1st January
to 21st February there were 2,065 deaths from influenza in the
Great Towns, compared with a figure of 266 for the same period
of last year, and with 6,810 for the corresponding period of 1951,
when a virulent epidemic of influenza was raging. Deaths from
pneumonia in the same period total 4,424 this year, compared with
2,336 last year, and 5,604 in 1951.
Although the figures fail to show the rapidity of the spread of
influenza that took place, they confirm the clinical reports that the
outbreak is not of the severe form of the epidemic that swept the
country two years ago. In the epidemic, recovery from the acute
symptoms has been usual after two or three days. In many
patients the respiratory symptoms have been followed by gastrointestinal
disturbance, and laboratory evidence confirms that the
cases have been due to Virus A—Prime.
On 27th January the Emergency Bed Service issued a "Red
Warning" to hospitals. This warning is given when it is found