Influenza activity caused by type B and type A(H1N1) viruses
continued in early April, especially in northern states. According
to
state reports and isolates from collaborating laboratories, virus
activity was at generally low levels.
Alaska, Illinois, Massachusetts, and New Mexico, which had
reported influenza type B isolates earlier, recently reported their
first influenza type A(H1N1) isolates of the season, and Delaware,
Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, and New Jersey have now reported
influenza
type B isolates. Two additional reports of outbreaks associated
with
influenza type B virus in nursing homes have been received. In New
Jersey, 2 type B isolates were obtained in a nursing home where 28
of
122 residents had influenza-like illness in the period March
21-April
3. In California, 18 of 46 elderly residents had febrile
respiratory
illness between mid-February and mid-March, and 3 died. Type B
influenza virus was isolated from 1 patient, and high titers to
influenza B were detected in convalescent-phase serum specimens
from 7
of 9 patients.
Reported by P Gross, MD, B Mojica, MD, W Parkin, DVM. State
Epidemiologist, New Jersey State Dept of Health; S Fannin, MD, Los
Angeles County, J Chin, MD, State Epidemiologist, California Dept
of
Health; BJ Francis, MD, State Epidemiologist, Illinois State Dept
of
Public Health; R Gilfillen, PhD, J Dicinti, NJ Fiumura, MD, State
Epidemiologist, Massachusetts Dept of Public Health; L McLaren,
PhD,
University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, H Hull, MD, J Mann, MD,
State
Epidemiologist, New Mexico State Health and Environmental Dept; J
Jean, PhD, DR Cowan, DDS, MS, State Epidemiologist, Delaware Dept
of
Health and Social Svcs; R Gohd, PhD, Charity Hospital, New Orleans,
C
Caraway, DVM, State Epidemiologist, Louisiana State Dept of Health
and
Human Resources; H Lind, PhD, W Nersesian, MD, Acting State
Epidemiologist, Maine State Dept of Human Svcs; D Ritter, MD, J
Middaugh, MD, State Epidemiologist, Alaska State Dept of Health and
Social Svcs; R Carlson, PhD, DE Wilcox, MD, State Epidemiologist,
Kansas State Dept of Health and Environment; Epidemiology Div, US
Air
Force School of Aerospace Medicine; Influenza Br, Center for
Infectious Diseases, CDC.
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