Evening star., 1943-12-15
Flu Epidemic
On Wane Here,
Rutland Says
Health Officer Sees
Need for Continued
Precoution, However

chPl csSllH Dellel tnat the In.
fuenza epidemic appeared to be on
the wane," DR.. George C. Rutland,
District health officer, estimated to-
day that 10000 cases have occurred
since November 20 and warned the
public to take protective measures.
The number of elementary school
children absent from classes todav
was 1910, an increase of l per cent
over yesterday. At the same time
only 24o of the 5000 teachers were
absent. compared with 266 yester-
Day, the Board of Education statisti-
cal office announced. The number
OF pupils staying at home is 80 per
cent OF the 52,249 enrolment.
The slight increase of absence.
tooay was attributed by school off,
Gals to the cold. weather, rather
than the flu. They added, however.
this is only a conjecture which they
oeheved to be reasonable one.
Must Take Precautions.
DR.. Rutland at noon issued the
following statement:
During the present influenza out
break which began about November
70, there have been. on the basis
OF our sampling of cooperative
groups, approximately 10000 cases.
This epidemic would appear to be
on the wane.
However, the usual precautions
should not be relaxed. Crowded
places should be avoided. Protect
others BY guarding the nose and
mouth when coughing and sneezing.
wash the hands before meals.
Thoroughly cleanse and disinfect
eating utensils by scslding. These
protective measures apply to both
adults and children.
This present outbreak is not ac-
companied by the fatal pneumonia
complications as was the 1918 pan
demlc. Although during December
four deaths have been attributed to
influenza, this is not exceptional for
this time of the year But influenza
is not a cause of death. It is rather
the pneumonia complications which
are fatal.
Deaths Not Above 1912.
However. the total deaths at
tributed to both influenza and pneu-
monia for the period Of the epidemic
is not in excess of last year.
If we were having the same pneu-
monia fatalities in this epidemic
as prevailed in 1918. there already
would have been approximately 900
deaths"
Several large companies-includ-
ing the Capital Transit Co and the
Chesapeake & Potomac Telephone
Co.-repcrted fewer employees sick,
and similar encouragement came
from some Federal agencies.
Meanwhile. more than 100000
persons Ill from respiratory ailments
In various sections of the country
were reported by the Associated
Press. Absences from war plants,
Offices ard schools continued to
mount in many States. but deaths
were few and the malady, diagnosed
generally as form Of influenza,
continued in mild form.
Flu Ravaging Germany.
With England suffering from a
more virulent type of the disease
and numerous fatalities resulting, it
was reported by the Associated
Press today from Madrid that Ger
many was ravaged by an epidemic Of
Influenza comparable to or greater
than that prevalent in Britain"
From Richmond, the State De-
partment OF Health reported the
disease had reached epidemic pro-
portions in Virginia, with 1.649 cases
reported last EcclIs-more than twice
the 65l recorded the previous week.
Estimates of the number of cases
in Washington ranged from 10 to Is
per cent of the population Some
physicians disagreed with the Health
Department in believing the peak
had been reached.
Recreation Department personnel
said they had noticed decrease in
attendance at Fairgrounds since the
start of the epidemic In addition
to the children actually sick. it was
explained. others have been kept
home by their parents to avoid con-
tagion.
The United States Public Health
Service was taking a poll of all the
State health services to determine
how far the sickness had spread
over the country. The Associated
Press reported that it had reached
the Southern States in the last few
days and was epidemic in Missis-
sippi In Ohio 10 per cent of the
population was ILL The Far West
was affected for the first time, with
Arizona and California reporting
large numbers of cases. Eastern
cities continued to be the hardest
hit.