Outbreak of meningococcal disease after an influenza B epidemic at a Hellenic Air Force recruit training center.
In January 1996, during an outbreak of meningococcal disease at a Hellenic Air Force recruit center in southern Greece, we collected paired serum specimens from 55 randomly selected recruits and tested for antibodies against influenza virus types A and B. Of 55 specimens, 15 (27%) were found to be positive for recent influenza B infection, confirming previous reports that respiratory tract infection due to influenza is probably a predisposing factor for meningococcal disease.
Makras
P
P
251 Hellenic Air Force General Hospital, Athens, Greece.
Alexiou-Daniel
S
S
Antoniadis
A
A
Hatzigeorgiou
D
D
D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D006115:Greece / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D009981:Influenza B virus / Q000276:immunology; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008585:Meningitis, Meningococcal / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D008889:Military Personnel
D000914:Antibodies, Viral