INFLUENZA EPIDEMIC (Statement)

Mr John Ede asked the Minister for Health whether he will make a statement on the causes of the recent influenza epidemic.

Mr A. J. Braga: Mr Speaker, Sir, I propose to make a full statement on the influenza epidemic to this House before the business of the day. The statement no doubt will answer many points that may be in the mind of the Member for Tanglin. But to answer this particular question briefly, the cause of influenza is generally by a virus known as Type A or Type B, it was originally thought that the cause of the present epidemic was by Type A, but recent indications are that it might possibly be a new virus previously unknown to medical science. The virus has been sent to the United States, the United Kingdom and Melbourne for identification and further study. The origin of the epidemic is unknown. It is most likely that it originated in Japan where it prevailed extensively, generally in a mild form, but it appears to have invaded Taiwan, the Philippines, Hongkong and the Federation of Malaya, and I believe that it has already now appeared in Australia.