Update: Influenza in Nursing Homes -- Michigan, Minnesota
In Michigan, where one nursing home outbreak of influenza has
previously been reported (1), an additional 18 nursing homes have
reported outbreaks of influenza-like illness occurring from
December
16, 1982, to January 10, 1983. Thirteen are located in the
southeastern area of the state, and five are located elsewhere in
the
lower peninsula. So far, influenza virus has been isolated from
one
outbreak; results of other laboratory studies are pending. Despite
these outbreaks, other indicators of influenza activity have
increased
only slightly in Michigan.
In Minnesota, state and local health officials are
investigating
outbreaks of influenza-like illness that began from December 25,
1982,
to January 7, 1983, at six nursing homes in five counties in
central
Minnesota. As of January 10, outbreaks of influenza-like illness
in
28 nursing homes had been reported to CDC. Investigation of a
previously reported outbreak in New York (2) has indicated 49 (60%)
of
81 residents experienced influenza-like illnesses in December; four
have died.
California, Illinois, Massachusetts, and Wisconsin have
reported
their first influenza virus isolates for this season from sporadic
cases in Los Angeles, Chicago, Boston, and Milwaukee. So far this
season, influenza virus type A(H3N2) has been isolated in 19
states.
Reported by J Webber, MPH, W Hall, MD, Michigan State Dept of
Public
Health; D Peterson, MS, J Goods, MPH, Minnesota State Dept of
Public
Health; V Birnberg, MD, F Sorvillo, MPH, B Weiss, MPH, B Agee, MD,
Los
Angeles, California; State Laboratory Directors and State
Epidemiologists; Consolidated Surveillance Activity, Epidemiology
Program Office, Influenza Br, Div of Viral Diseases, Center for
Infectious Diseases, CDC.
Editorial Note
Editorial Note: Although many reports this winter concerning
influenza-like illness relate to nursing homes or homes for the
aged,
an unusual propensity for current strains to affect the elderly is
not
necessarily implied. In many states, communications from such
facilities about disease outbreaks are actively promoted by the
state
health department. Furthermore, the closing of schools and
colleges
for winter vacation may have temporarily prevented outbreaks in
these
populations, which would likely be reported to state and local
health
departments. While the current level of reports suggests that
influenza activity this winter will be greater than last year's
very
sporadic outbreaks, reliable forecasts cannot be made with the
available information. Persons who are at high risk of serious
illness if infected with influenza and who have not yet received
vaccine should still be encouraged to do so.
References
CDC. Update: influenza--United States. MMWR 1982;31: 702.
CDC. Influenza update--United States. MMWR 1982;31:696.
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