title: An outbreak of influenza B in an isolated nomadic community in Jammu & Kashmir, India.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Community outbreaks of disease amongst nomadic populations generally remain undocumented. Following a reported increase in acute respiratory tract infections (ARI) in May 2011 in a nomadic population of Sangerwini in Jammu & Kashmir, India, we examined the patients with ARI symptoms and their nasal swabs were tested for influenza virus.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with ARI (n=526) were screened from May 14 to 23, 2011 and nasopharyngeal swabs collected from 84 with Influenza like illness (ILI) for bacterial cultures and influenza virus testing. Samples were tested for influenza A and influenza B by real time (RT)-PCR.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twelve (14.3%) of the 84 patients tested positive for influenza B, compared to only one (0.9%) of 108 patients with ILI in a parallel survey performed in Srinagar during the same period, suggesting a localized outbreak in the isolated nomadic community. All presented with respiratory symptoms of less than seven days. Familial clustering was seen in 40 per cent (25% of influenza B positives). Average daytime temperatures ranged from 15-16 ° C compared to 22 ° C in Srinagar. Four patients developed pneumonia whereas others ran a mild course with a total recovery with oseltamivir and symptomatic therapy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our report of confirmed influenza B in this underprivileged nomadic population argues for routine surveillance with efforts to improve vaccination and infection control practices.
authors: Umar H
authors: UH
authors: Khan
authors: Muneer A
authors: MA
authors: Mir
authors: Feroze
authors: F
authors: Ahmad
authors: M Hussain
authors: MH
authors: Mir
authors: Nargis K
authors: NK
authors: Bali
authors: Renu B
authors: RB
authors: Lal
authors: Shobha S
authors: SS
authors: Broor
authors: Department of Internal & Pulmonary Medicine, Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, Srinagar, India.
authors: Parvaiz A
authors: PA
authors: Koul
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D007223:Infant; D017053:Infection Control; D053118:Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype; D009981:Influenza B virus / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D011153:Population; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D014171:Transients and Migrants