The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1919-01-30
DATA ISSUED CONCERN.
ING 'FLUENZA CONTROL
State Health Officer Makes. Known
Striking Feature of Grippe"
Epidemic.

A careful analysis of all data OBJ
tainable in regard to the present
epidemic shows the following strik-
ing features, from which most val
liable deductions can be drawn in
considering control measures:
Three days after an unusual
gathering of people there is an in
crease in the number of cases re-
ported, Thus, every Tuesday is
high because of Saturday and Sun
day minglings; the 2Sth of December
was high following Christmas; the
3rd and 4th of January were high
following New Years festivities.
Therefore there should be no unnec-
essary or unusual gatherings. Of
gatherings, dances constitute the
greatest number of cases. Dances
therefore should be prohibited dur
ing the epidemic.
The waves of the epidemic run in
about three week intervals. A study
of the causes of this and the matter
of carriers, indicate that many cases
remain carriers for a period of tw3
or three weeks. The greatest number
of severe cases during a wave are
able to be up and around in about
three weeks and are unccnsciously
spreading the disease causing the
next wave. Therefore. in addition
to the ten days quarantine, each re-
covered case should wear a mask for
period of two or three weeks in the
presence of unexposed persons, and
all persons coming In close contact
with the sick should wear masks.
Masks, to be effective, should be
sufficiently large to completely cover
the nose and mouth. They should
have at least eight layers of gauze
and should be sterlized after three
hours use. Sterilizing Is easily ac-
complished by dropping the mask In
boiling water for ten minutes.
1t has been discovered that the dis
ease Is being spread to a greater ex-
tent than has been realized by
utensils used In eating and drinking.
Therefore all dishes, cups, glasses,
knives and forks, etc., used in eating
or drinking in all public places, and
in all private homes or public insti-
tutions wherever there are cases of
influenza, should be thoroughly
sterilized by boiling Is minutes.
The modified quarantine, in ad-
dition to the mask provision and the
sterilization of utensils, consists of a
strict isolation of the patient and at
tendents for period of ten days
following the resumption of normal
temperature. Members of the house
hold not in contact with the sick are
not quarantined. The house must be
placarded. Release from quarantine
is only by direction of the health
officer. The matter of closure is left
for each community to decide for
itself, except in the matter of dance
halls and such places of amusement
or public gatherings that are not
properly ventilated,
In regard to vaccines: While it is
recognized as impossible to rely
absolutely upon the value of any
vaccine or other treatment not
proven by controls, still the data
herewith submitted is worthy of CON
sideration.
The city and state laboratories
have dispensed sufficient vaccine
(Lloyd) for about 100000 inocula-
tions. Probably considerable
quantity of this was used, or it may
have been too long or too warm to
be of much value when used. Report
blanks upon which to rabuate the