Evening star., 1937-01-30
CITIZENS WARNED
TO GUARD AGAINST
INFLUENZA SPREAD
Health Department Cites
Sharp Increase Over
1886 Period.
395 CASES REPORTED
AND 189 PNEUMONIA
Population Susceptible As Time
Approaches for Pandemic Like
That Of 20 Years Ago.

A sharp increase here in the number
Of influenza and pneumonia cases 20
far this year in comparison with .
similar period in 1896 today brought
a statement Of caution from the Dis
trict Health Department.
While the situation Is not alarming,
the fact that 395 cases Of influenza
and 1s9 cases Of pneumonia have been
reported during the past 80 days indi-
Gates . mild epidemic exists.
During last January only Is cases
of influenza were reported omcially,
while there were 1873 cases Of pneu-
monia.
In January. 1886, the two diseases
claimed 102 lives, 81 from pneumonia
and II from influenza. This year 23
persons already have succumbed to
the "flu" and lit to pneumonia, max
ing q total Of 40 deaths.
No Serious Outbreak.
Although there has been no serious
outbreak, there has been q decided in
crease in the prevalence Of influenza
and pneumonia, according to DR..
James G. Cumming, chief Of the Dis
trict Health Departments Bureau Of
Preventable Diseases.
1T Is now about 20 years since the
last pandemic of influenza" DR.. Cum
ming said in q statement. while the
exact time of the next visitation Of
this scourge cannot be predicted, 1t
is probably true that we now have q
population which is again susceptible
to the infection. The severe pandemics
Of influenza, usually explained on the
basis of this increased susceptibility,
plus the unrestricted distribution Of
the influenza virus, usually occur every
20 to 80 years.
"At the present time there are cer-
tain factors which point toward an
approaching infiuenza-pneumonia epi-
demic. During the present season
there has been an increasing preva-
lence of so-called 'fiu.' grippe and in
fiuenza. While this prevalence has in
no way reached serious epidemic pro-
portions, it Is significant that such an
increase usually portends future OUT
break.
Increasing Mortality.
"But the most striking evidence OF
an approaching major outbreak is the
increasing influenza pneumonia NOR
tality during the last three years. Dur
ing 1894 these deaths numbered 691.
in 1885, 824, and In 1886, 900. Here
we have "a per cent increase in the
combined influenza pneumonia deaths.
"This Is q sizable increase and may
be considered as . forerunner Of an
approaching epidemic, which may ar
rive during the next several years and
may occur during the late Fall sea-
son.
Influenza alone Is not fatal. It Is
the pneumonia complication which
makes the epidemic q veritable scourge.
The influenza attack lowers resistance,
as we say, 50 that pneumonia invasion
readily takes place, and the latter Is
one Of our most fatal infections.
ITO protect against influenza and
pneumonia, the following health habits
are important:
IL. Keep the hands away from the
nose and mouth. Hand-to-mouth in
fection is prolific source Of influenza.
-. Wash the hands before each
meal. Use soap and running water.
"s. Wash the hands before preparing
your own food or that for others.
-. Eat from disinfected dishes, not
only in the home, but as well In public
eating places.
IS. When sneezing or coughing, cover
the nose and mouth with Q clean
handkerchief.
IF all the people would take these
precautions and practice them as daily
health habits. the saliva-borne tnfec-
tions would be brought under control
as successfully as has been the expert
ence with typhoid and malaria"