| Show A possible Rebur recurrence rence of influenza predicted during this fall and winter so much has been said and written about the probability of 0 the recurrence of the pandemic ot of influenza this winter the united states public health service has felt that it should mako make some comment on the subject quite frankly no one can say with any certainty certainly whether there will bo be a recurrence of last ears cars experience the statements submitted below are about all that can be said with any measure ot of assurance aes urance there Is such a widespread fear of influenza influx anz a that the public health bervice has haa suggested that the press publish these statements in full so BO that tho the public may draw their own conclusions it will be observed that no mention has been made of a cure or specific so tar far as the most careful scientific ln investigations have been able to determine none has baa been discovered the suggested emed lep which give mot most encouragement are even now in their experimental stage evidence collected during last years pandemic points strongly atron gly to infected eating and drinking aten sils especially in places where food aud and drink are sold to the public as being one af atthe the modes of tra trans namis slon blon of this disease in some mun this matter has already been made the subject of regulation but the enforcement cn of the regula tlona often leaves much to be b desired the following ate aie the statements which have been issued by the public service probably but by no means certainly there will be a recurrence of the influenza epidemic this year indications are that should it 00 cur it will not be as severe as an the prey previous loun pandemic city officials state and city boards of health should be prepared in the event of a recurrence the fact that a previous kotack brings immunity in a certain percentage of cases should allow tear fear on the part of those afflicted in the tha previous pi evious epidemic influenza is spread by direct and indirect contact it la Is not yet certain that the germ has been isolated or discovered and as a consequence there la Is yet no positive preventive except the enforcement of algid rules of sanitation and the avoidance of personal contact A close relation between the influenza pandemic and the constantly increasing pneumonia mortality rate prior to the fall of 1918 1 I recognized it la is now believed that the aleas was waa pretty widely disseminated throughout the country before it wait wa 0 recognized in its ejI epidemic demIc tate state this failure to recognize the early cases appears to have largely been due to the tact fact that every interest was waa then centered on the war |
