London flu

In December 1972 reports began to circulate of cases of 'London flu' throughout the United States. 'London flu' was a particular form of influenza caused by an influenza virus which had apparently first been identified in India in 1971, but was first identified as a distinct strain in England early in 1972.[1]

Progression within the United States

On 14 December it was reported by the federal Center for Disease Control (CDC) that there were cases in five cities: Memphis, Kansas City, Baltimore, Anchorage and Seattle.[2] By 22 December, it was described as a variant of Hong-Kong flu, 'A-England 72' (following 70 cases having been identified in England) with outbreaks in 2 colleges in South Massachusetts.[3]

By 29 December it was reported as present in 14 states, with 'thousands' of cases, with San Francisco Bay the latest to be hit.[1] On the next day a further state was reported to be affected.[4]

A TV report on 8 January 1973 announced that 18 states were affected, and in the United Kingdom there had been over 1,000 deaths.[5] On 13 January the New York Times announced that the CDC considered that the outbreak exceeded epidemic level, with California particularly hard hit.[6]

On 3 February, London flu deaths in the US reached 1,027, according to the National Center for Disease Control, nearing the previous year's death toll for Hong Kong flu.[7]

International reports

The World Health Organization reported outbreaks also in the Soviet Union, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Morocco and Lebanon, with localised outbreaks in four other countries.[7]

Analysis

Subsequent statistical analysis indicated that by the following season (1973–1974), influenza type B was predominating over type A strains by a factor approaching 4:1.[8]

References

  1. 1 2 Lawrence K. Altman: Sniffles? Flu Virus Takes Toll 29 December 1972, www.nytimes.com, accessed 13 February 2020
  2. ↑ St. Louis Post-Dispatch from St. Louis, Missouri 14 December 1972, (Page 25) www.newspapers.com, accessed 13 February 2020
  3. ↑ Influenza Outbreak In ‘Critical’ Period For Impact on U.S. 22 December 1972, www.nytimes.com, accessed 13 February 2020
  4. ↑ London Flu Outbreaks Spread 30 December 1972, Desert Sun via cdnc.ucr.edu, accessed 13 February 2020
  5. ↑ London Flu #23190 8 January 1973 ABC Evening News via tvnews.vanderbilt.edu, accessed 13 February 2020
  6. ↑ FLU NOW EXCEEDS EPIDEMIC LEVEL 13 January 1973, www.nytimes.com, accessed 13 February 2020
  7. 1 2 London-Flu Deaths Exceed 1,000 Mark 3 February 1973 Desert Sun via cdnc.ucr.edu, accessed 13 February 2020
  8. ↑ Influenza surveillance report no. 90, 1973-1974 and 1974-1975 February 1976 stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/286, accessed 13 February 2020
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