The Washington herald., 1920-01-19
20 FLU CASES
ADDED TO LIST
Only One Death from This
Disease Has Been Re-
ported in Capital.
KEEPING CLOSE WATCH
Health Officer and His Staff
Prepare to Meet Any
Emergency.
KEEPING CLOSE WATCH

Twenty new cases of influenza were
reported to the District health depart
ment yesterday. according to an an
nouncement made last night by DR..
w. C. Fowler. health officer.
As there Is only one Sunday delivery
OF mail. IT is expected a number Of
cases which normally would have been
reported late in the day will be report
ed in the first mail delivery this morn
ing.
In the last three days an aggregate
lof 1a cases have been reported. Only
one death, that OF a colored woman
who died Friday. has been eported
thus far.
Emergency Not Pressins.
Recrudescence OF the fiu epidemic.
which took toll Of thousands Of lives
last year. began here Thursday. when
twenty-one cases were reported. Six
teen additional cases were reported
Friday and an aggregate Of seventy
four new cases were reported Satur-
day.
Health Oficer Fowler and his assist
ants are keeping a close watch on the
situation and preparing to meet any
emergency. but It was said last night
no steps will be taken to reopen the
hospital for influenza patients which
was conducted by the District govern
ment last year. Conditions do not
justify such a step. DR.. Fowler de-
clared.
District health department officials.
although confident the situation will
not develop into an epidemic like that
OF last year, will endeayor to enlist
the services OF all doctors, nurses and
medical students in Washington in a
campaign Of education to prevent its
spread.
How to Avoid Flu.
Precautions against the disease
said DR.. Fowler, include: Avoid ex-
cessive fatigue and exposure: have
meals at regular hours, eating sui.
neent nourishing food, but no more
than Is necessary; take enough exer-
else in the open air to keep in good
physical condition: get plenty OF
sleep and have the bedroom well
ventilated: wear suitable clothing to
prevent contraction of colds and
pneumonia.
Other precautions mentioned by DIR.
Fowler are avoidance of unneces-
sary gatherings and visits to persons
suffering from colds. especially IL.
they are suspected of having infiu-
enza, and keep away from crowds Of
all kinds.
Many persons in the District are
suffering from heavy colds, DR.. Fow-
Ter stated. A number Of dIphtheria
and pneumonia cases have also been
discovered. Some of these cases have
been. reported by government depart
ments.
/ War Risk WARMING
In the Mar Risk Bureau the direc-
tor has issued a warning to en-
pioyes that several cases of diptheria
have been discovered.
The situation is being watched very
closely and all cases reported are
promptly quarantined. Employees suf-
fering from colds have been directed
to report to the nurses on duty at the
Arlington building. as their threats
may be examined to determine
whether they have any germ of din
iberia. Very few cases have been
reported SO far. but DIR. w. c. Rucker,
chief medical adviser. and executives
Of the bureau haev held several con-
ferences to combat its spread
One of the cases reported, although
a very mild one, was that Of Daniel
c. Roper, jr., chief of a correspond
ence section of the insurance division.
Mr.. Roper said last night that al
though under quarantine at his home
he felt perfectly well and expected
to be out of quarantine by tomorrow.
Supervisor Robert (. MattingIy, Of
the District census, said the enumera-
ton work had been retarded some
what because several girl workers had
contracted pneumonia due to expo
sure.
As to the prevalence of pneumonia,
Health Officer Fowler said he can