Evening star., 1951-01-25
Millions in Europe Sick as Flu
Hits Peak in Some Countries
Thousands, Most Old,
Dying in Epidemic;
ENGLAND Worst Off
By The Assoeioted Press

En9lond WORST UT
By The Assoeiotsd Press
LONDON, Jan. 25.-Millions II
Europe are sneezing and running
temperatures and some thousand.
mostly the feeble and aged
have died in an influenza epidemic
which appears to be reaching it.
peak in a number of countries.
The United Kingdom seems tt
be hardest hit by the highly in.
fectious disease, which sweep.
through communities with star.
tling suddenness. laying low {
large proportion of the population
In some continental countries
notably Belgium, Germany, Den.
mark and Sweden-the illness ap.
pears to be waning. But it i.
flaring up in Czechoslovakia anc
Poland and is reaching epidemic
proportions in Spain.
Fear Spread to South.
In many regions of Britain
schools are closed, theaters art
empty and transportation and in
dustry have faltered. Health off.
cials fear the disease may spreae
and that it may sweep the popu.
lous southern half of England
which has, unaccountably, beer
relatively free of influenza.
The influenza belt" in Britain
extends from Tyneside on tn.
northeast coast, where the dis.
ease is believed to have made it.
entry from Norway, to Merseysidt
on the west coast, including tn,
City of Liverpool.
Almost universally, hospitals
are overcrowded and doctors over.
worked. Sufferers are being toll
to go to bed and cure themselve'
with remedies offered by drul
stores.
Virus Is Identified.
Public health officials every
where are emphasizing that
has been a mild form of tn
disease, despite so many cases
Robust persons usually have a few
days of aches and raging fever
then recover.
In Britain, Scandinavia ant
Spain. the virus responsible ha
been identified definitely as beinI
of the "A" type. But it is an "a
with peculiarities of its own whicl
scientists call "A prime"
Not much progress has beel
made in combating the diseas
with vaccines. In most cont
mental countries it is not eve.
being attempted. But the de
velopment of a suitable vaccine
the most urgent project at Mil
Hill. London district known a
the influenza research center G
the world. There DR.. Christophe
Andrews, directing the work O
the Medical Research Council, ha
produced a vaccine which promise
to be effective. Controlled mas
experiments with it are bein
arranged.
May Run Course.
But many physicians believ
that this particular epidemic ma
run its course before an effectiv
means of immunization agains
this special virus has been per
fected.
British health officials have n
exact information on the numbe
of current cases. Many neve
come to the attention of physi
clans. But statistics on influenz
deaths are more nearly complete
In the week ending January l
in the so-called 126 great towr
Of England and Wales, includin
London and covering a populatio
Of 20 million. 800 persons died c
influenza. For the previous wee
the total was 458. while in tn
week ending December 80 tn
figure was 102. About IS per Ger
OF those who died were over
years of age.
Influenza is prevalent general
in Ireland, waning in the sout
but still going strong in the nortl
Almost 100 deaths have been re
ported in Belfast during the pas
two weeks. Most Dublin school
have been closed for short period
as have schools in some Englis
towns. Irish hospitals are display
ing mo visitors" notices.
Abating In North.
The Scandinavian lands, wher
it is suspected the present wav
originated, have noticed signs G
abatement. the high point ap
parently having been reache
about January Is.
In Germany. the disease seem
to be confined to the Hambur
area and is waning. France an
Belgium have little influenza.
Influenza hit Poland two week
ago. Unconfrmed reports fror
Czechoslovakia say that 80 per
sons died of flu in Pilsen recently
Influenza of a mild virus "A
type is general in Spain. Portugs
up to now has been almost fre
of influenza.