Update: Influenza Activity -- Worldwide, United States
Worldwide: During late 1984 and early 1985, influenza activity
has occurred at low levels in most countries, but outbreaks have
been
reported from North America, Europe, and Asia. Influenza A(H3N2)
has
predominated, and infrequent outbreaks associated with influenza B
viruses have also been reported. Influenza A(H1N1) isolates have
been
rare.
In addition to the previously reported outbreaks of type
A(H3N2)
influenza in the United States, widespread influenza A(H3N2)
activity
occurred in Norway and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics
during
January and early February. At the same time, some outbreaks were
reported from northern China, the Federal Republic of Germany, the
German Democratic Republic, and the United Kingdom. Sporadic cases
were also reported from Canada, Finland, France, Hong Kong, Italy,
The
Netherlands, Sweden, and Switzerland.
Influenza A(H1N1) viruses were isolated from young adults in a
single outbreak that occurred in Finland in November 1984; from an
outbreak in February at a boarding school in England; and from a
small
number of sporadic cases in China, France, and Switzerland during
late
1984 and early 1985.
Influenza B viruses were isolated during outbreaks in
Indonesia,
Taiwan Province of China, and the United Kingdom in January.
Otherwise, only sporadic cases of influenza B infection have been
reported in China, France, New Zealand, Portugal, Singapore,
Sweden,
and Brazil.
United States: Trends of recent surveillance data suggest that
national influenza activity began to level off in February (Figure
2). For the week ending February 23, 1985, 26 states reported
widespread or regional outbreaks of influenza-like illness,
compared
with the previous week, when 28 states reported similar levels.
Reported by Virus Diseases Unit, World Health Organization, Geneva,
Switzerland; Participating physicians of the American Academy of
Family Physicians; State and Territorial Epidemiologists; State
Laboratory Directors; Other collaborating laboratories; Statistical
Svcs Br, Div of Surveillance and Epidemiologic Studies,
Epidemiology
Program Office, WHO Collaborating Center for Influenza, Influenza
Br,
Div of Viral Diseases, Center for Infectious Diseases, CDC.
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