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Show oo Bl. 8EAHY SEES i HSi FOB eras Influenza Mild With Little Reason Rea-son for Alarm Death Rate Declared Low SALT LAKE, Feb. 3. That there is no reason for alarm over the prevalence preva-lence of influenza is the assertion of Dr. T. B. Beatty, secretary or the state board of health, yesterday. Dr. Beatty called attention to tho figures from Salt Lake to date, showing that about 1700 cases of influenza has been reported re-ported and that there are only twelve deaths that can properly be charged to this disease. "Last year." Dr. Beatty said, "with a similar number of cases, there would have been between sixty and seventy deaths. It is certain that nothing like tho proportion of cases is reported this year that was Inst year. This is because be-cause of the mildness of the malady. Many persons who have influenza imagine they are suffering only from colds. Still others think that the 'grip is something different from influenza, for the reason that last year complication complica-tion made the disease so much more fatal. "Probably the percentage of fatalities fatali-ties this year is not more than one-tenUi one-tenUi as great as it was last year. This is the experience not only in Utah, but of the whole United States. "In this respect the present condition condi-tion is similar to that of tho early nineties. At that time the disease prevailed pre-vailed in epidemic form for three years, and did not subside until practically prac-tically all the people "of tho country had had it. "The present is clearly the third stage of the epidemic- whic is always jtho mildest in form, though usually quite widespread. Records show that influenza was epidemic in the winter of 191S and spring of 1919, although, due to pre-occupation with war work, j it was not recognized until the statistics statis-tics were prepared on deaths from influenza. in-fluenza. That was the first stage. The second and more severe epidemic was in the following winter, and the present is the third sjagc. "What is prevailing here is prevailing, prevail-ing, alb pver tho United States. The state board of health is pursuing the same measures and pdlicy as endorsed by public health officials everywhere. It is not considered that the present situation calls Tor drastic closing orders. or-ders. This does not man that the individual in-dividual should not avoid crowds and tako precautionary measures. And it is very important that the quarantine nnd isolation measures should bo enforced en-forced and obeyed strictly. "Tire present epidemic will probably prevail for two months more, or until spring is fully established. Aj it goes on it is becoming more and more ap parent that persons who were ill during dur-ing last winter are comparatively immune im-mune from the disease at tho present time." nn |