Show r r n INFANTILE PARALYSIS r No ty k Safe From Polio Poo Epidemic Areas that have been free of at infantile infantile in- in paralysis outbreaks for a number of at years may be more vulnerable vulnerable to the disease than those f with recent epidemIc experience Dr Thomas Parran surgeon general gen gen- general eral of the U U. U S. S public health service service ice recently stated Discussing cycles of epidemIcs In the June Issue of Hospitals magazine mag- mag I. I azine official pub pub- 11 c a ti 0 n of 0 t the American Hospitals x t association Dr f Parran saId such 4 4 theorizing had no y r J scientific basis but b- b was founded on presumptive evIdence evidence evI- evI dence adding i. i Many observers ers ens have theorized 1 that as an Dt Dr Parran is Ic spreads throughout through through- out the community It reduces the number ot of susceptible individuals to a point where the epidemic can canno no longer maintaIn itself itselL Until anew a new group of at potential victims grow up which may be from four to six years that communIty should be beless less vulnerable to attack Dr parran Parran said there was danger danger dan dan- ger in relying too strongly on this t theory since recently exposed areas may be lulled into a feeling feelIng feel feel- Ing ot of false security while localitIes localities tIes which have been free of the dIsease for tor several years may become unduly alarmed The safest procedure by far he advised Is for aU all communities to prepare for epidemics r Dr Parran's article in the AHA ABA magazine was one of 10 on Inan- Inan tile tle paralysis timed to reach more than member hospitals r f throughout hout the country before onset onset on- on set of at the polio epidemic season usually ranging from late June to September The other articles f provide in in- in S 'S S. S forma formation on on methods of at treatment organization of community resources resources re- re sources the key position of the general gen gen- oral eral hospital in the over all car carof care s ot of poliomyelitis patients and th the therole e role of the National Foundation tor fo er r Infantile Paralysis in financing polio poli treatment at general hospitals s Dr Parran said that all communIties ties should inventory theIr facilities s for the treatment of at polio including including ing hospitals which normally donot do donot not accept patients suffering with contagious diseases and he added Such pre epidemic planning is necessary if adequate care is to be given to all who contract the disease Under the guidance of at those officials charged wIth the community's health and with the substantial support of the National Foundation Foundation tion for Infantile Paralysis and its local chapters every community in i ithe n the United States can be prepared to meet epidemIcs of poliomyelitis litIs without fear or panic |