Isolation of two influenza viruses from persons in Las Vegas,
Nevada, during late October 1984 has been reported. They have been
preliminarily identified as related to A/Philippines/2/82(H3N2).
The
first isolate was from a 63-year-old woman who developed fever of
39.4
C (103 F), headache, and myalgias on October 24 and was admitted to
a
local hospital for 6 days. The second was from a 77-year-old man
with
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, who was hospitalized on
October
29 following onset of fever (38.9 C (102 F)), headache, myalgias,
and
nausea. No influenza outbreaks have been reported in Nevada.
Reported by J Clark, P Reichelderfer, PhD, J Oparnico, Sunrise
Hospital, N Venger, MD, K Fazekas, MD, Las Vegas, J Constantino, O
Ravenholt, MD, Clark County Health Dept, GE Reynolds, MD, State
Epidemiologist, Nevada State Dept of Human Resources; WHO
Collaborating Center for Influenza, Influenza Br, Div of Viral
Diseases, Center for Infectious Diseases, CDC.
Editorial Note
Editorial Note: It is common for sporadic isolates of influenza to
be
reported at this time of year in the United States, indicating
low-level spread of virus in the population. Both patients in
Nevada
were hospitalized, illustrating the potential benefit of
administering
influenza vaccine annually to those persons at greatest risk of
complications from influenza infections. The Immunization
Practices
Advisory Committee (ACIP) has recommended that priority be given to
develop special programs for administration of vaccine to two of
the
groups at high risk: (1) adults and children with chronic
disorders
of the cardiovascular or pulmonary systems severe enough to have
required regular medical follow-ups or hospitalization during the
preceding year; (2) residents of nursing homes and other
chronic-care
facilities (e.g., institutions housing patients of any age with
chronic medical conditions) (1).
Influenza vaccine, although normally given in the fall, should
continue to be administered to persons in the above high-priority
groups, as well as to persons in other groups recommended to
receive
it (1), up to the time influenza epidemics are occurring.
Physicians
and administrators of facilities providing care for persons at high
risk are also encouraged to evaluate the organization and outcome
of
present vaccination activities to determine whether changes could
improve the delivery of vaccine to high-priority groups during the
1985-1986 season.
CDC will make available to health-care organizations and public
health or voluntary agencies camera-ready copies of a revised
brochure, "What You Should Know About 'Flu and 'Flu Shots,"
suitable
for reprinting locally. Requests should be sent to the Centers for
Disease Control, Influenza Branch, Division of Viral Diseases,
Building 7, Room 111, Atlanta, Georgia 30333. In addition, a
limited
number of printed brochures is available from the above address.
Requests for these should include a preaddressed, adhesive label to
facilitate mailing the brochures.
Reference
ACIP. Prevention and control of influenza. MMWR
1984:33:253-60,
265-6.
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