Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-08-16
NOT ONE CASE
! OF INFLUENZA
IN COMMUNITY
State Department of Health Issues
Warning and Urges PrecautiOn
Against Outbreak.

Contrary to rumors that in
fluenza has reappeared in certain
districts in Rock Island, City
Physician Albert N. Mueller states
that not a single case of that
dreaded disease has been brought
to his attention lately. There are
several cases of summer cold,
which, however. are not alarming
DIR. Mueller keeps sharp look
out for the slightest indications of
such diseases in this community.
Also, he is prepared in case OF an
emergency. The city detention hos
pital is being improved by painting
and equipping the structure, and
the physician believes that the
authorities here have taken pre-
cautions.
In case of a "flu" epidemic, DR..
Mueller advocates quarantining.
He says that any such contagious
disease which might break out is
bound to disappear in short time
II the victims homes are properly
Quarantined to prevent spreading.
The danger in influenza is from
complications, he said, such as
pneumonia.
At present there are only three
guarantees in Rock Island, one
for diphtheria, one for whoOping
cough, and the other for typhoid
fever. This condition is very en-
couraging.
It is not expected around Rock
Island that another influenza cpl
demic such as the one last year. or
the other disastrous one in 1892,
will break out.
State Action.
The state health authorities are
also taking precautions against an
other epidemic. A late bulletin is
sued at Springfield explains the
situation and urges precautions as
follows:
within the last two weeks the
state department of health has
been investigating several epidemic
outbreaks of so-called summer
colds or summer flu and from
data in hand It appears that there
recently has been a recrudesence
of influenza of a mild type in a
munitieS throughout the state. This
development is a matter of consid-
cradle concern to the state health
authorities, especially in view of
the approach Of the season when
the disease ordinarily takes on
greater severity. 1t indicates that
the seed of infection is in our
midst and that every precaution
must be taken to hold it within
bounds.
I'm this connection the state
department of public health is call
ing official and public attention to
the regulations prescribed for the
prevention of the spread of in
fluenzal infection and is insisting
upon their strict enforcement in
every known or suspected case. !
For the purpose of proper control
the department urges the necessity |
of regarding every case of sum- !
mer cold" summer flu" or bron- !
chitis with grave suspicion.
Symptoms.
The clinical picture of the cases
investigated is as follows: Onset !
sudden, with symptoms of cold in !
the head and inflamed throat; /
temperature commonly running as |
high as 103 to 104 Fair, head
ache, muscle ache. pulmonary /
raIes, and in some cases nausea |
and vomiting. Duration, three to |
FIVE days. Very few cases have ser /
ious lung involvement and, so far !
as known. no deaths have resulted. |
ain more than Sc per cent of the
cases Investigated the affected per-
sons had not been infected with in
fluenza during the preceding cpl
1emic. About 80 per cent had in
fluenza last winter.
Some health authorities hold
that in the light of knowledge of
previous epidemics of influenza we
may look for another epidemic
wave of serious proportions with
the onset of fall; others express
the belief that the disease has
snank fra foPe0 and that dava3oTa A