Madison County Democrat. (London, Ohio) 19??-1958, 1951-02-27

GENEVA influenza, the &C.
Wasting killer OF 1918 that took
moro lives than World War !, is
again on the rampage in northern
Europe and the British Isles. This
time, however, neither the spread
nor the severity of the illness can
be compared with the more SER
ious epidenies Of influenza earlier
in this century. according to the
World Health Organization, a
Specialized Agency of the United
Nations.
Under WHO'S auspices, the
World Influenza Center in Lon
don ard a network Of 81 regional
centers around the globe are
keeping a close watch on the
spread of this hard-to-control di-
sease and reporting their findings
via radio bulletins and weekly
summaries to national health
authorities, thereby limiting the
chances of surprise epidenics.
As a result Of research under
taken at the London Center and
in. several European centcrs, the
virus responsible for the present
outbreak has already been identi-
fled and the Identification Of iso-
lated strains is continuing
This Identification process is
vital for the preparation Of vac
cines corresponding to the current
type of influenza. since there is no
common vaccine effective for all
outbreaks.
The FLU virus is known to
change IFS properties SO rapidly
that Il has teen impossible thus
far TO find a stable virus from
which potent vaccine could be
r1ade This unusual property OF
the disease and the fart that il
spreads rapidly over extensive
areas. presents serious control diff
ficultics for health authorities.
In an attempt to find 4 solution
10 this problem, the London IN
fiuenza Center. aside from is
role Of International watch sta
ton" following the spread Of the
illness throughout the world, has
as its Iong-raRge objective the
preparation OF a universal vaccine
which would Dc effective against
all the various types Of influenza
virus. IN addition doctors from
all ever The world cor1c to Lon
don in oraer 10 brush up en ire
latest techniqucs used in conlbat-
ing influenza. Thus the Center,
established by WHO in 1917, also
serves as m educational insiidi-
ion where techniciaas can learn
the most modern laboratory
methods in their fled
In the current outbreaks, WHO
reports, complications have been
rare and mortality remains very
low. Although sometimes fatal for
the aged of for cardiac patients.
the considerable progress in
chcmothcrapy of infectious dis
cascs-espeeially sulfa and anti
biotics---permits successful Vig7r-
Gus action agains. the secondary
infections which caused tkc h..y'3e
est fatalities in 1913
Tracing the spread Of the pres
ent epidcnlic in northern Earope
WHO says that it probably origi-
mated from localized outbreak
in Sweden last juno. In Nevom-
Der, the disease appeared ii Dcr-
mark and later in Norway and
northern Sweden.
The Agency believes that it was
imported into England from the
scandinavian area, spreading first
to northern England and later 10
the whole country. At about the
same time, early January. the
Netherlands, Belgium and north-
ern Germany became highly in
fectcd and some cases, pro- ably
imported from Britain. appeared
in Iceland.
A second focus Of infection,
more limited and to all appear
ances independent of the first. the
report said, was discovered late
in December in the province Of
Guipuzeoa, northern Spain The
Two foci now appear at the point
Of joining across France.
WHO has also been notified Of
outbreaks IN Hawaii and Japan.
Meanwhile. work at lac London
Center continues. AT present for