Large sequential outbreaks caused by influenza A (H3N2) and B viruses in an institution for the mentally handicapped.
During the mixed epidemic caused by influenza A (H3N2) and B in the 1992-1993 season in Japan, large sequential outbreaks occurred in an institution for mentally handicapped people where none of the residents or staff members had been immunized. During the influenza A outbreak (A/ Beijing/32/92-like strain) in January, 37.0% of the residents (85/230) and 31.4% of the staff (75/239) had an influenza-like illness. During the influenza B outbreak (B/Panama/45/90- and B/Beijing/184/ 93-like strain) in late February, 59.0% of the residents and 24.3% of the staff had an influenza-like illness. As many as 25.2% of the residents had two episodes of influenza-like illness during the season, as opposed to only 5.4% of the staff members. Mixed epidemics probably have a severe impact on institutionalized high-risk people, adversely affecting them almost twice as much as influenza epidemics caused by a single virus.
Department of Paediatrics, Nippon Kokan Hospital, Kawasaki, Japan.
N
N
Sugaya
N
N
Kusumoto
Y
Y
Suzuki
R
R
Nerome
K
K
Nerome
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D006233:Persons with Disabilities; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053122:Influenza A Virus, H3N2 Subtype; D009980:Influenza A virus / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D009981:Influenza B virus / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*; D008607:Intellectual Disability; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012111:Residence Characteristics