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INFLUENZA—HINTS AND PRECAUTIONS.
By Sir Geo. Newman, M.D.,
Chief Medical Officer to the Ministry of Health.
The latest returns for England and Wales (with a few
exceptions which may be mere chance occurrences) do not
at present show any sudden increase either of death
attributed to influenza or of notifications of infectious
pneumonia. The Ministry of Health has, however, kept
under close observation records of epidemic sickness at
home and abroad, and in view of the almost simultaneous
increase of influenza in great American cities, in Europe
(Poland), and also in the Far East (Japan), the Ministry
consider that there is considerable probability of another
wave of influenza developing in this country at an early
date. This may be due to direct introduction by infected
persons arriving from abroad or to the independent development
of the epidemic from the influenza usually present.
Influenza is particularly infectious during its incipientstage
and while the person who has contracted it is still
able to follow his avocation and to mix with his fellow men.
Almost everybody, therefore, is exposed to infection at one
stage or another of an epidemic. While no certain safeguard
against the disease is as yet known to exist, it is
important to give attention to the following points during
an epidemic wave.
Prevention.
Infection may be guarded against by:-
(a) Healthy and regular habits, and avoidance of:-
(i) Fatigue.
(ii) Chill.
(iii) Alcoholic excess.
(iv) Crowded meetings and hot rooms.
(v) Unnecessary travelling.
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