Imperial Valley press., 1940-12-11
BY BRUCE CATION
EA Service Staff Correspondent

WASHINGTON, Dec. 11-If the
influenza epidemic which has de-
veloped in California is no worse
than present reports to the United
States Public Health Service indi-
cate, >the American people do not
need to be alarmed about repeti-
ton of the great 1873 epidemic.
A great many cases of influenza
have been reported in California,
but-as far as the Public Health
Service can learn-there have been
very few deaths.
If that holds true in later and
more detailed reports, say the public
Health Service authorities, the 1918
variety of influenza probably is not
present. For the 1918 epidemic car
ried many deaths with it.
Epidemic influenza is about as myS-
terious a riddle as medical science
ever has to tangle with, but one
thing does seem to be known defin-
itely-that there are two varieties
a severe one like the 1918 visitation
and a relatively mild form which is
a nuisance and pain, but which
is seldom fatal.
A month or two ago Puerto Rico
had an epidemic of influenza-the
mild form. California, apparently
is getting what Puerto Rico got.
NO SURE
CONTROL NOW
Right at the moment, there is nc
sure method of controlling inflenza
Medical science is better off thar
it was in 1918 in just one respect
the virus which causes the malady
has been isolated by several inves'
tigators. and has been established ir
animals. Two types of influenza vir'
us have been isolated so far. Tht
relationship of these types is no
yet known.
Chief work along vIliS line has
been done by the Rockefeller Foun'
dation. Scientists there have sue
ceeded in making vaccine which
apparently, will give protection
against one type of the disease
to animals. Whether It will also give
protection to human beings is no.
yet definitely known, chiefly be.
cause opportunities to test it have
been rare.
Should another epidemic of tht
1918 type of disease make its ap-
pearance, this vaccine could be test
ed under conditions which woule
shoU exactly what degree of protec.
ton it may give. If it should bt
proven that the vaccine is able tt
give immunity, science would ther
be able to control" inflenza.
Unless and until that or some.
thing similar happens, however, the
simple fact is that medical men to.
day are no better equipped to figh'
epidemic influenza than they were
in 1918.
For one thing, there is no simple
specific diagnostic test by which {
physician can be dead sure hi
actually has a case of Influenza or
his hands. There are a few labor
atories in the country where sucf
test can be made, but the process.
is long and difficult and is not avail
able to the ordinary physician.
For another thing, Public Health
Service experts frankly admit they
do not know how to control epidemic
influenza.
Influenza is highly infectious in
its early stages; apparently it i.
transmitted from one person to an
other in the air, probably in the
minute droplets of moisture from
the mouth and nose. Yet the elab-
crate efforts to check the 1918 cpl
demic by isolating all sufferers
closing schools and theaters ano
churches and preventing public
gatherings as much as possible seem
ed to do little or no good. For the
influenza victim apparently Car
transmit the infection to someone
else before he knows he has it him.
self.