Ottawa County news. (Port Clinton, Ohio) 1931-1956, 1948-09-10
Nine Positive Polio Cases And
Three Possibles Reported
In This County

year-old son of Mr.. and Mrs. A.
J. Davids, East Perry street,
passed away shortly before three
o'clock Wednesday afternoon in
Maumee Valley hospital, To-
ledo, and was Ottawa county's
first polio fatality.
Two other members of the Red
skin grid team were rushed to hos
pitals Tuesday night and Wednes-
day, as possible victims of the dis
ease. Robert Petersen, son of Mr..
and Mrs. Christ Petersen, was TAX
en- to City hospital in Cleveland
late Tuesday, while Donald Rhodes,
a senior grid star, was rushed to
Toledo Wednesday afternoon.
Mrs. Luther Rhodes, mother of
Donald, telephoned school officials
Thursday morning that doctors at
the Maumee Valley hospital had
determined that Don Rhodes def
nitely is suffering from polio.
Three other children, a 19-month-
old boy from the Fremont road
area where most of the other local
victims reside, four-year-old Gyp-
sum boy, and an eight-year-old
Elmore girl were alsoi taken to
Maumee Valley hospital as possi-
BILE polio victims.
! Another grid player has been i'll
this week, but physicians do not
believe he is suffering from polio.
A 14-year-old Erie township boy
is being treated in City hospital,
Cleveland, for another contagious
disease, believed to be spinal men,
ingitis.
Football Is Out
Following a conference with
local board of education members
and Supt. ID. ID. Sims early We'd
nesday afternoon, DIR. George
Poe, county health officer, orr
dered all football teams in OF
tawa county to refrain from
practicing, and all grid games
cancelled until further notice.
County Supt. of Schools A. o.
Dehn and DR.. Poe notified all
school superintendents to adhere
to the order, which naturally can
cells the football premier scheduled
for this Friday night.
While no one is certain as to the
cause of poliomelytis, the football
restriction was ordered as a pre-
caution that physical exertion,
bruises and bodily contacts might
possibly aid in spreading the dis
ease.
School Not To Close
School and health officials de-
cided not to close local schools as
it was felt that segregation would
be nearly impossible to enforce and
that teachers can keep close watch
over all students.
Parents are again warned to
notify doctors as soon as their
children complain of sore throats,
aching legs, backs and arms, and
fevers. 1t is imperative that vic
tins receive treatment as soon as
possible.
Schools throughout the county
will not be closed unless the board
of health so advises. Any such
order, coming as a result of a
threatened epidemic, must come
from health officials and not mem
bers of the school board.
Health Board officials this week
stated that the Ohio Board of
Health does not advise closing
schools when polio epidemic threat
ems. The officials believe that the
pupils are under constant super
vision in school, when teachers can
notice the slightest listlessness or
illness and have children checked
by doctors quickly.
Absenteeism from school classes
lis checked Immediately, so if your
child is absent from school for
reasons other than sickness, it is
your civic duty to notify the school
at once and thus save needless ex-
pense and more work by harassed
doctors and health officials.
DR.. George Poe, county health
officer, reported infantile paralysis
totals in Ottawa county this year
show nine positive cases and three
possible victims.
Other victims taken to the hos
pital late last week included
Charles Allen Kurtz, 19-months,
son of Mr.. and Mrs. Charles
Kurtz, 538 Fremont road, and
Donald Zenser, four, son of Mrs.
Dorothy Meacham Zenser, Gyp-
sum. They are in Maumee Valley
hospital.
! Wading pools in Lakeview park
were closed by Mayor Becker,
Tuesday, as a precautionary meas
ure. Miss Judy Won Thron, life
saver, is returning to college
studies soon and health officials
advised the pool he closed.
Shirley Quintet and George DELL