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Hong Kong influenza in the Royal Air Force 1968–70

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 May 2009

D. L. Miller ,
D. Reid ,
Judith R. Diamond ,
Marguerite S. Pereira  and
Pratima Chakraverty
D. L. Miller
Affiliation:
Epidemiological Research Laboratory
D. Reid
Affiliation:
Epidemiological Research Laboratory
Judith R. Diamond
Affiliation:
Epidemiological Research Laboratory
Marguerite S. Pereira
Affiliation:
Virus Reference Laboratory Central Public Health Laboratory, Colindale Avenue, LondonNW9 5HT
Pratima Chakraverty
Affiliation:
Virus Reference Laboratory Central Public Health Laboratory, Colindale Avenue, LondonNW9 5HT
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Summary

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A prospective serological and clinical study of the epidemics due to the A2/Hong Kong/68 influenza virus was made during the winters 1968–9 and 1969–70 in volunteer subjects in the Royal Air Force. In October 1968 nearly all subjects had haemagglutination inhibiting (HI) antibody to the A2/Singapore/57 virus and more than half had antibody to strains more recently prevalent in Britain. The proportion with HI antibody to A2/Hong Kong/68 increased from 31% in October 1968 (most at low titres) to 44% after the first epidemic and 72% after the second (most at high titres). Serological infection rates were much lower in those who had detectable antibody at the beginning of each winter than in those who did not. Respiratory illnesses coupled with serological evidence of influenza infection during the winter were rare in persons with an initial titre of HI antibody of 1/40 or more. Infection in the first winter conferred complete protection against infection, with or without illness, in the second. In both epidemics about half those with serological evidence of infection had no reported illness.

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Hygiene , Volume 71 , Issue 3 , September 1973 , pp. 535 - 547
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1973

References

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