Newspapers / Watauga Democrat (Boone, N.C.) / Nov. 21, 1946, edition 1 / Page 10
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Influenza Outbreak Is Due This . Winter If Schedule Is Followed Washington. Nov. 14 ? If in fluenza keep* to its schedule health authorities say, a mild Aitbreak will occur in the United StMtes this winter. Researches have discovered two influenza viruses, A and B. Tbey also have learned epidemics by them occur in cycles, the "A" type every two to three years, the "B" type every four to rfx years. The A type is due to Strike this winter. It last appear al in strength three years ago The outbreak in 1918-19 killed an estimated 20,000,000 people throughout the world. There have keen 1? epidemics since 1B18, and aone was nearly so severe as the first. Many doctors believe they have ? new weapon to fight influenza. It is a vaccine of the virus types A and B. It was made available to the public last year after being developed by the army. Whether one of these was the type that caused the disastrous outbreak of influenza after World War I is not known. It wasn't un til 1933 that one of the viruses, type A, was indentified. Type B was disveovered later. "One can merely speculate that the viruses known today are re lated to the 1918 episode, says a member of the army influenza commission, working in coopera tion with the office of Maj. Gen. Norman T. Kirk, the surgeon gen eral. But assuming the 1918 epidem ic was caused by a virus related to the A or B types, the commis sion consultants predicted: "It should be anticipated that the vaccine will be equally ef fective against such an eventu ality. "If total population groups could be vaccinated or if suffi cient numbers of the population could be treated it should follow according to all epidemiological principles that the disease would not become epidemic and even the unvaccinated and those who did not respond to vaccination should be protected by virtue of reduced risk of exposure." The army has been working on the vaccine several years. It was tried on 12,600 men in the army's specialized training pro gram in 1943 during an outbreak of type A flu. The army estimated it reduced the Incidence of in fluenza among these men by 75 per cent compared with unpro tected men. Last winter everyone in the army was ordered vaccinated ? 0,000,000 people. Officials say that during an epidemic that oc curred last winter the army had not epidemic. The doctors point particularly to two examples. At one univer sity, out of a group of 1,100 un vaccinated service men t, ^ie dis ease sent 100 to hospitals. Among 600 vaccinated army men there were only seven cases. The com mission reported flu was reduce ed 88 per cent by vaccination. At another university 550 army men were vaccinated a few weeks before the flu outbreak. Another group of 1,050 servicemen were unvuccinated. There were three leases among the army men and 132 cases among the other ser vicemen, army doctors reported. The army influenza commission estimated flu was reduced 96 per cent by vaccination. "When the respiratory disease experience of the army was com pared with that of cililian groups and with that of other sc vice units in which vaccination was not done, it was clear beyond doubt that the incidence of dis ease has been reduced," a com mission report said. How long effects of the new vaccine may last is not known. Apparently its protection starts about a week after it is admini stered. Some doctors say it isn't nec essary that the entire population be vaccinated every winter to escape influenza. They say vac cination is necessary only when an outbreak first begins to ap pear. They believe if this is done an epidemic might be confined to "pockets" and wouldn't spread throughout the nation. 64 OPA Offices Will Be Closed On December 1 Washington ? OPA has thrown its liquidation machinery into high gear, announcing it will close its 84 district offices on December 1 and trim its payroll from about 34,000 now to not more than 15 SOO by January 13 At the same time the agency announced that 30-day dismissal notices will have been issued to about 17,500 employees by the end of this month. The doctors emphasize that the new influenza vaccine isn't ef fective against common colds or any respiratory infection except the two known influenza viruses, A and B. The recognized authorities say "there isn't anything new to re port this season" about colds. Some doctors have reported evi dence indicating penicillin and the sulfonamides are effective in treating some of the diseases that may attack after a cold sets in. These include pneumonia and sinus infections. But there is no proof the drugs are effective against the cold itself. The United States public health service reports "our knowledge of colds is so incomplete that an exact definition of the condition cannot be given." But it makes these suggestions for avoiding them: 1. Avoid people with colds whenever possible. 2. Wash your hands often, es pecially before eating. 3. Avoid chilling and wet feet. 4. Eat well balanced meals. 5. Get plenty of rest. 6. Keep rooms well ventilated. IGNORES DOG'S WARNING ROBBED TWICE Washington ? It wasn't the fault of GI Joe, a Boston bull ter rier, that his master, Earl Good win, was robbed twice in a short time. GI Joe barked a warning but Goodwin sleepily threw a shoe at him. The next morning Goodwin discovered that thieves had stolen two mattresses and two small rugs. The same thing happened recently, when Good win's living room rug was taken. Congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. Herman Wilcox on the erec tion of Boone's fine, new Bus Terminal which will adequately take care of the trans portation needs of the community for many years to come, and which marks another step in the progress of the best town in Western Carolina. Hunts's Department Store The Fashion Shoj> GOP PROGRAM TO BE DELAYED TILL JANUARY Washington ? Senator Robert T?ft of Ohio, forecast today that Republicans will delay final drafting of any party legislative program for the GOP-con trolled congress until early in January. Any such delay probably would lay the Republican proposals be fore congress after President Truman outlines his Democratic administration requests for leg jislation in the annual state of the union message. Taft told a reporter the GOP senate and house steering com mittees probably will produce, a list of subjects which subcom mittees will be asked to prepare recommendations or bills for pre sentation at conferences of all party members early in January. "The new members of the sen ate and house must have a full voice in deciding our policies." Taft said. "We hope to have recommendations to lay before them but the conferences will make the final decision." The Republicans will proceed with their program without refer ence to any proposals the Demo crats may make,, he added. The two GOP steering com mittees, meeting in separate ses sions last week, and held a joint meeting Thursday. Meanwhile senate and house GOP steering committees met for their first crack at organizing the congress. All signs, however, pointed to a long delay also in resolving lead ership questions. particularly since the house struggle is rag ing unabated against a backdrop of 1948 presidential politics. Assembling for separate meet ings, the 20 representatives and eight senators who make up the program planning groups were expected to discuss a wide field of prospective legislation in their new role as strategists for the maority party. But Senator Wallace White of Maine, who may become majori ty floor leader, in his chamber, told a reporter he is urging his colleagues to center their fire on a few major issues. "I don't think we ought to try to write a party platform such as might be produced by a national convention," he said. "We ought to say what we want to do about a half-dozen major issues and not spread our efforts all over the lot. We ought to make promises that we can carry out and then see that they are fulfilled." LUCKY FIND Shawanee, Okla. ? While fly ing at 400 feet in rough air near Pauls Valley, Okla., Lyle McKer racher, who patrols an oil pipe line from the air, lost his false teeth. On the next day, he drove to the area and found his teeth, undamaged. Foreign policy unchanged by election, in contrast to 1918. WE WISH TO CONGRATULATE MR. AND MRS. HERMAN WILCOX on the opening of the new UNION RUS TERMINAL Boone's new and modern transportation center is a model of beauty and convenience, and Mr. and Mrs. Wilcox deserve the highest commendation for taking this important step in the progress of the community. Winkler Motor Co. W. R. WINKLER, Manager Authorized Ford Sales and Service We Extend Our Congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. Herman Wilcox on the construction of Boone's new bus termi ? nal . . . which is one of the finest to be found. ? ? They have fittingly demonstrated their faith in 0 O the future of the community. j Farmers Hardware & Supply Co.
Watauga Democrat (Boone, N.C.)
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Nov. 21, 1946, edition 1
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