Epidemiologic Notes and Reports
Update: Influenza Virus Activity -- United States
Influenza type A(H3N2) virus has now been isolated from
patients
in 24 states. Nine of these (Florida, Idaho, Kansas, Louisiana,
Maine, Missouri, Nevada, Oklahoma, and South Dakota) have reported
their first isolates of the season from patients with onset from
late
December 1982 through mid-January 1983. The first influenza type B
isolate from the United States this season was obtained from a
42-year-old male in Houston, Texas, who developed influenza on
December 20. The first influenza type A(H1N1) isolates were
obtained
from two Chicago residents. The first, a 10-year-old male, had
onset
of illness on December 27, 1982, and was hospitalized with severe
asthma on December 29. He recovered and was discharged on January
8.
The other, a 26-year-old female, had typical influenza-like
illness.
Most of the influenza isolations mentioned above (except those in
Idaho and South Dakota) have been associated with sporadic
activity.
Minnesota is reporting widespread influenza activity with
outbreaks in 35 of its 87 counties. Although the first reported
outbreaks occurred in nursing home populations (1), all age groups
are
The other, a 26-year-old female, had typical influenza-like
illness.
Most of the influenza isolations mentioned above (except those in
Idaho and South Dakota) have been associated with sporadic
activity.
Minnesota is reporting widespread influenza activity with
outbreaks in 35 of its 87 counties. Although the first reported
outbreaks occurred in nursing home populations (1), all age groups
are
now affected, and school absenteeism is between 10% and 20% in many
locations, elevated from an average baseline of 2%-7%.
For the weeks ending January 14 and 21, 1983, the elevated
ratio
of pneumonia and influenza deaths to total deaths in 121 U.S.
cities
indicates excess mortality related to influenza (2,3) (Figure 2).
This parallels the steady increase in the number of influenza
isolates
and increased levels of influenza morbidity reported in January by
some states.
Reported by D Peterson, MSc, D Peterson, Minnesota State Dept of
Health; P Glezen, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas; H
Headrick, South Dakota State Dept of Health; A Hoffman, MD, R
Muldoon,
PhD, Cook County General Hospital, M Beem MD, University of
Chicago, J
Kusek, PhD, University of Illinois--Chicago, R March, R Haroff,
Illinois State Dept of Public Health; E Buff, Florida State Dept of
Health and Rehabilitative Svcs; P Reichelderfer, PhD, Sunrise
Hospital, Las Vegas, Nevada; Respective state epidemiologists and
laboratory directors; Consolidated Surveillance Activity,
Epidemiology
Program Office, Influenza Br, Div of Viral Diseases, Center for
Infectious Diseases, CDC.
References
CDC. Update: influenza in nursing homes--Michigan, Minnesota.
MMWR
1983;32:17.
Choi K, Thacker SB. An evaluation of influenza mortality
surveillance, 1962-1979. I. Times series forecasts of expected
pneumonia and influenza deaths. Am J Epidemiol 1981;113:215-26.
Choi K, Thacker SB. An evaluation of influenza mortality
surveillance, 1962-1979. II. Percentage of pneumonia and
influenza
deaths as an indicator of influenza activity. Am J Epidemiol
1981;113:227-35.
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