Adenovirus 21 infection in an isolated antarctic station: transmission of the virus and susceptibility of the population.
Natural dissemination of viral respiratory illness to susceptible men may occur with surprising difficulty. This was especially evident during a 1977 outbreak of adenovirus type 21 (Ad-21) at McMurdo Station, a US research base in Antarctica. The unique circumstances at McMurdo allowed 125 men from the US to join and intermingle with 75 men who had wintered for 6 months in complete isolation. For an additional 5-week (September 2 to October 4, 1977) isolation period, respiratory illness etiology and transmission were monitored in the combined population. A total of 89% of the population was susceptible (neutralizing antibody titer, less than 1:3) to Ad-21 but only 15.0% were infected. Illness spread very slowly (1.5 cases/100 persons/week) with no epidemic peak and was much less severe than Ad-21 outbreaks in other settings. The incidence of infection (17.3%) and illness (9.6%) was low even in men who had wintered over, with values very similar to those of the newcomers (13.9% and 8.9%, respectively). Thus, despite a harsh environment and frequent prolonged gatherings of susceptible personnel, even a respiratory virus type with known epidemic potential was surprisingly difficult to transmit.
Shult
P A
PA
Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Wisconsin Medical School, Madison 53706.
Polyak
F
F
Dick
E C
EC
Warshauer
D M
DM
King
L A
LA
Mandel
A D
AD
D000258:Adenovirus Infections, Human / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000635:transmission*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000864:Antarctic Regions; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D003081:Cold Climate / Q000009:adverse effects; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009790:Occupations; D015995:Prevalence; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000635:transmission*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012621:Seasons; D012934:Social Isolation; D014481:United States / Q000208:ethnology
D000914:Antibodies, Viral