Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1920-01-28
FLU IS MAKING
PRESENCE FELT
IN NEW MEXICO

Especial Correspondence to The JournaI)
Santa Fe, Jan. 27.-Influeuza
mas begun to make its presence
felt In the state, once more. SO far
the outbreaks reported to the state
department of health have been
rather circumscribed in extent and
mild in character However. in
the past week. several cases Of
pneumonia have developed among
those suffering from the disease.
The state department of health
believes that the people of the state
should be promptly and fully in
formed as to the daily prevalence
of the disease and to that end has
instructed all health officers o
wire daily to the department The
number of cases appearing in their
jurisdiction. This information VIII
be given to the press as received.
Naturally, the question arises
what should be done to avoid infec-
ton? The best answer that can he
given to this query is to guard the
avenues of entrance as far as pos
sible. 1t appears that the diseases
finds access to the body through
the mouth and nose. Therefore
the following precautions SHOULD
be observed:
/. Avoid crowds, especially in
closed rooms, where the infective
organisms are likely to be sprayed
into the air by coughing, sneezing,
laughing and talking, This applies
to large and small gatherings alike.
2. Avoid those persons who are
so ill-mannered and selfish as 10
cough and sneeze without cover
ing the face or turning the head
away.
3. AS many articles, such MS
doorknobs, paper, money, etc, are
soiled by secretions of the nose and
mouth from the fingers of those |
who handle them. be sure to wash |
the hands thoroughly before they
are allowed to touch the nose, lips /
or articles of food.
a. While vaccination against |
Influenza does not appear TO be of |
much value in preventing the dis
ease. yet preliminary vaccination |
against pneumonia does seem to
reduce that complication to con-
siderable extent However, those
with tuberculosis should
not take the vaccine without the
full consent of their attending ply
stefan.
The best single measure for pre-
vention is the prompt isolation of
all persons exposed to a case of in
If every person who
knows that he has been so exposed
would stay at home for four days
after the exposure, his neighbors
would be spared much sickness and
possible death in many cases.
But, in spite of all precautions,
some persons will become infected.
IN order to make as complete
recovery as possible and to avoid
complications, should one develop !
symptoms, such as head
tche, backache, fever and cold, the
ollowing precautions should be of
help;
|, Go to bed promptly and stay
here until all symptoms have been !
Ibsent for at least five days.
2. Call the best doctor you can
get and follow his directions abso-
utely.
3. Get all of the fresh air you i
an. |
The outstanding features of the |
pidemic of influenza last year was {
he urgent need of community pro-
-isions for nursing feeding anl
medical care on large scale. ii
rider that the people might be pre- '
Jared, the state department of l
lealth issued a complete plan of 5
organization, sending copy TO !
very health officer last fall This |
,lan provided for local committees
# public spirited citizens who '
would band themselves together to
urnish the necessary relief work. !
he department urges that thc3e {
be formed at ono and {
J at all preliminary stops lie taken {
c that, L the sc1urge should once
l.cre fall upon this state, we shall y
lc' be found in a helpless conc !
ion of unpreparednegs sLch as de-
noralized our communities last
winter .