Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1919-10-02
PREDICTS RETURN OF FLU"
u. s. Public Health Service
= Warns Municipalities
Says Eating and Drinking Tsaces Msy
Cnuse spread--Outbreak In 1918
Not Fresh importation from
Europe--stnrted Here

ter, the United States public health serv-
ice sounds warning to municipalities
throughout the country to be on their
guard and to prepare to combat any con
ditions that may arise.
The statement, which was sent out by
DR.. Charles Il. Bolduan, chief Of the sec
ton OF public health education. is based
| on a careful study Which the service hos
made Of all the many features OF the re-
cent pandemic.
The warning to public health officials
ia accompanied by a letter from Surgeon
General Rupert Blue. stating that avi-
dencc collected points strongly to In
fectcd utensils In public eating and ink
| ing places one Of the means through
which the disease was spread. and says
| that while some municipalities have al
/ ready made the matter the subject OF
| regulation, in many parts of the coun-
| try nothing has been done. Til, letter
calls on the public to take action where
The public officials have failed to do 500
NOT IMPORTED FROM EUROPE
! One Of the interesting things the pub
lie health study indicated was that the
| outbreak in the autumn OF 1918 WAS MOI
| n fresh importation from abroad, as has
generally been supposed, hut that in the
preceding three years there had been a
number of mild cases. of which the frs
| in New York occurred in the winter OF
1sl5-1ols In the spring OF 1918 there was
another outbreak of the grip and pneu-
MONA in several localities which, was, 30
the report says, the beginning in this
country of the pandsmic.
The statement says.
| Concerning the important question OF
immunity conferred by an attack OF in
nat
bur there is reason to believe that al
attack during the earlier stages OF the
epidemic cunfcrs u considerable. but not
absolute immunity in the later outbreaks.
| In general tho pandemic OF Influenza was
largely similar to that of 1890 in its
development. hrst in mild form. later ~
| n severe worldwide epidemic. in the ra-
pdity Of its spread and its high case
incidence. II has. however been notably
different III much higher mortality, es-
pecially among young adults. Such evil
dencs az has been gathered confirms IN.
conclusion previously reached. that il is
transmitted directly and indirectly b.
contact. II appears probable. however.
that the infection was already widely dis
seminated in this country sometime be
fore a serious epidemic was recognized.
Despite the fact that there is still
some uncertainty as TO the nature OF
the micro-organism causing pandemc in
huenza, one thing is certain. that tho
disease is communicable from person to
person. Moreover. Judging from expert
cnce in other diseases. it is probable thai
the germ. whatever its nature. is carried
about not only by those who are i'll with
influenza. but by persons who may be EN-
tirely well. Everything which increa ses
personal contact, therefore, should be
regarded az n factor in spreading irfiu.
auza.
LITTLE SERVICE OF FACE MASKS
Much was heard last winter Of th'
use OF face masks. Though the Use of
suitably constructed masks will reduce
the interchange OF respiratory germs
through inhalation. il must be remembered
that there are many other paths by which
| such germs are transmitted from person
! to person. Soiled hands. common drink
ing cups, improperly cleaned eating and
drinking utensils in restaurants. soda
fountains. etc. roller towels. infected
food-these are only few Of the common
vehicles OF germ transmission. The use
of face masks appears to make people
neglect these other paths nj infection
, and 80 the use Of face masks has MOI
been attended with the success prcd cd
for them. II we would be moro Suce "ss-
: full in combating influenza greater atten-
ton must be paid to the factors jus, Gnu
merated
The question Of most practical and
immediate interest is the probability Of
. recurrence in the near future. Recur-
rences are characteristic Of influenza cpl
: demca, and the history Of the last pan
demic and previous ones would seem to
point to the conclusion that this one ha.
,
hand. this epidemic has already shown
tnreo more or less distinct phases an6
, has been more severe at least in NOR.
tality. than the three-year epidemic OF
lsss-s2, facts which justify the hope
: though not the conclusion. that it has
run its course already. 1t seems prob
able however. that We may expect al
: least local occurrences In the near future
with an Increase over the normal NOR
tally from pneumonia for perhaps sew
eral years; and certainly we should be-
as far as possible, prepared to meet them
by previous organizations OF forces and
measures for attempted prevention. treat
men and scientific investigation.
There should be no repetition of the
extensive suffering and distress which ac-
companied last years pandemic Com
munties should make plans now for deal
lUE win any recurrence OF the eptueInlr.
The prompt recognition OF the early cases
and their effective isolation should b.
aimed AT In this connection. attention
is called to the fact that the cases may
appear to be just ordinary colds. A
recent extensive outbreak OF what wer.
regarded as Summer colds" In Peoria
=. H., y owed on investigation to be an cpl.
demic Of a mild type of influenza. EA
: perencc indicates that these mild cpl
- denies are often the starting points OF
. more severe visitatons Hence every Of
y fort should be made to discover as early
y as possible any unusual prevalence OF
colds" For municipalities operating Oh
a budget basis. ii liz important that all
delay in providing the necessary fnancia
:, support to the health authorities in deal
: ing with a recurrence OF the epidemic be
. avoided by setting aside an emergency
epidemic fund. This may prove of the
: greatest value in carrying out important
:. preventive measures in the early days
!, Of the epidemic at a time when their
beneficial effect is greatest.
/, THE most promising way to deal with
a 4 possible recurrence Of the influenza
: epidemic is, to sum il up in single
q word. Preparedness And now II lie the
q time to prepare"
n TAKING NO CHANCES
n The Young ladies were writing a Atory