In Alaska, widespread outbreaks of influenza-like illness were
reported for the fifth consecutive week (November 30, through
December
28, 1985). Fifty-one type A(H3N2) and 40 type B influenza viruses
have now been isolated this season. In Hawaii, type A(H3N2)
viruses
were isolated from six students in a Honolulu school, where a
cluster
of influenza-like illnesses occurred in mid-December. One type
A(H1N1) virus had been isolated in Hawaii from a sporadic case in
November (1).
California, Montana, Nevada, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin have
reported their first influenza virus isolations of the season from
residents whose illnesses occurred from mid- to late December. Six
type B viruses were isolated from patients near Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania; five type B viruses were isolated from patients in
Milwaukee, Wisconsin; and type B viruses were isolated from
patients
in Berkeley, California, and Helena, Montana. Type A(H3N2) virus
was
isolated from a patient in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Nationwide, weekly reports of influenza-like illnesses seen in
November and December* have been in the range typically noted in
the
absence of extensive outbreaks. The percentage of deaths
associated
with pneumonia and influenza reported from the 121 cities has also
remained in the range expected in the absence of extensive
outbreaks
through November and December.
Reported by D Ritter, Northern Regional Laboratory, JP Middaugh,
MD,
State Epidemiologist, Div of Public Health, Alaska Dept of Health
and
Social Svcs; G Kobayashi, Laboratories Br, C Ibara, S
Terrell-Perica,
MPH, AP Liang, MD, State Epidemiologist, Hawaii Dept of Health; J
Schlieble, PhD, Viral Disease Laboratory, J Chin, MD, State
Epidemiologist, California Dept of Health Svcs; J Brinker,
Microbiology Laboratory, J Gedrose, RN, State Epidemiologist,
Montana
State Dept of Health and Environmental Sciences; R Reichelderfer,
PhD;
J Clark, Sunrise Hospital, Las Vegas, GE Reynolds, MD, State
Epidemiologist, Nevada State Dept of Human Resources; C Schultheis,
MD, King of Prussia, B Kleeger, PhD, State Public Health
Laboratory,
EJ Witte, VMD, State Epidemiologist, Pennsylvania State Dept of
Health; G Sedmak, PhD, Milwaukee Health Dept, JP Davis, MD, State
Epidemiologist, Wisconsin State Dept of Health and Social Svcs;
participating physicians of the American Academy of Family
Physicians;
Statistical Svcs Br, Div of Surveillance and Epidemiologic Studies,
Div of Field Svcs, Epidemiology Program Office, Influenza Br, Div
of
Viral Diseases, Center for Infectious Diseases, CDC.
Reference
CDC. Update: influenza activity--United States. MMWR
1985;34:741-2, 747.
*These illnesses are reported by physician members of the American
Academy of Family Physicians Research Panel, who serve as sentinels
for influenza.
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