Evening star., 1943-12-14
Officials Bar
Bus Congestion
1oCombatFIu
Survey Under Way to
Find if Epidemic
Is Subsiding

IiHu u IpluSHIH
Is Subsiding
With a survey by the District
Health Department under way today
to determine whether the epidemic
of influenza is increasing or dimin-
ishing. officials took measures tc
prevent overcrowding of streetcars
and buses and to assure adequate
ventilation.
A slight decrease was indicated
In an announcement by the public
schools that absences in elementary
schools dropped from 325 per cent
yesterday to 81 per cent today
About 578 children returned to
school today and 16,205 are still
sick. Number of teachers sick, how.
ever, is 266, 2 more than yesterday
At a conference late yesterday be-
tween members Of the Public Utilities
Commission, Health Department
officials and officers Of the Capital
Transit Co. and of suburban bus
lines, it was decided to instruct
motormen and drivers to keep
vehicles at their rated capacity OF
standing room.
The Health Department survey was
not expected to be completed before
tonight or tomorrow. After a similar
survey last week, the department
estimated 10000 persons in the Dis
trict had been stricken with the
malady since its onset late in
November
Since then, officials said, no ac-
curate information has been avail
able on the total number Of cases,
and 1T was not known today Whether
the peak has been reached.
Flu Causes One Death.
One death from influenza was re-
ported to the Bureau of Vital Sta
tistics, that of Charles J. Davis, 40
colored, of the 700 block of Pleas
ant court S.W. Physicians reported
however, that the epidemic con-
tinued in mild form and few pa
tients were developing pneumonia
va
DR.. John B. Nichols, digging into
the records, recalled that in Octo.
ber. 1918. alone, during the great
influenza epidemic, there were
l ,568 deaths here. In November OF
that year, deaths dropped to ITS
but they rose to 423 in December
OF 5000 deaths from all causes
during that year, 1880 were at
tributed to influenza and its COM
plications.
United States Health Department
physicians reported "a mild form OF
respiratory ailment" prevalent in
epidemic proportions in some sec
tions OF the country. In the hardest
hit sections, including cities of the
East and Middle West, one in every
10 persons was ill., the Associated
Press reported. War plants were
hard hit in some sections.
District health officers said at the
conference over street cars as,r
buses that overcrowding of vehicles
was one of the principal dangers
OF spreading the disease further
Because of war conditions. the
transit company had received per
mission from the PUG to load
vehicles beyond peacetime limits,
Ill Urged to Stay Home.
Emphasizing the necessity for COW
ering sneezes and coughs, health Of
ficials urged persons who feel few
erish to stay at home. They ex-
pressed the view that opening win
doWs in cold weather to ventilate
the vehicles would cause more harm
than good.
The company has sent notices tc
lts BUS operators stating that their
venlcles must be properly venti-
lated in all kinds of weather
The regulations require that during
the months of November to March
inclusive, the temperature inside
the buses must be kept at abou,
so degrees Fahrenheit.
Should a bus become overheatec
or the ventilating system fail tc
function properly. heat must be
turned off and report made to frs
supervisor and bus must be turned
in"
10Go of Drivers Sick.
1t was explained that a tempera
ture of so degrees in an empty bu,
rose Is to 80 degrees when it was
crowed. The transit company ha.
already started to clean the stanch.
ions In its vehicles with disinfec.
tants. Already 265 or 10 per cent
OF the company's operators are or
the sick list.
Among those attending the con-
terence were Chairman James A
Flanagan of the PUG, Assistant En-
glneer Commissioner Charles w
kutz, member of the PUG; DR.. Dan
iel L, Seckinger, assistant District
health officer; DR.. James Cumming
chief of the Bureau of Commune
cable Diseases. and Edward Merrill
president of the transit company
Although the illness among oper-
ators has cut down the number OF
vehicles in operation. it was said
that the reduced loads as a result
OF widespread illness has offset the
loss.
Increase in Prince Georges,
Montgomery County health off.
cials said, meanwhile, the epidemic
has not reached its peak in that
county, while in Prince Georges
County 1t was believed the epidemic
was decreasing in intensity.
DR.. V. L. Ellicott, MONTGOMERY
County health officer, said the dis.
ease seemed worse in the suburban
areas of the county He said attend.
ance at some suburban schools was
reported off by a third because OF
the diesase.
Prince Georges County health Of
ficials said IS doctors reported yes
terday a total of 1,751 cases in the
county and school officials said at
tendance was off about 80 psr cent
In Alexandria, Va, school officials
reported that Its students were
absent yesterday as compared to
837 abSentees Frjdov uaoltb of