Hostname: page-component-76fb5796d-5g6vh Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-25T17:11:15.306Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Concurrent outbreaks of influenza and parvovirus B19 in a boys' boarding school

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 May 2009

E. A. Grilli ,
M. J. Anderson  and
T. W. Hoskins
E. A. Grilli
Affiliation:
Influenza Research Unit, Public Health Laboratory, St Luke's Hospital, Guildford GU1 3NT
M. J. Anderson
Affiliation:
Department of Medical Microbiology, University College and Middlesex School of Medicine, London WC1E 6JJ
T. W. Hoskins
Affiliation:
The Infirmary, Christ's Hospital, Horsham RH13 7LT
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Summary

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

In the spring term of 1985 there was a protracted outbreak of upper respiratory tract febrile illness consistent with a clinical diagnosis of influenza in a boys' boarding school, which lasted from 23 January to 29 March. Although influenza virus infection was confirmed in 89% of cases in the first half of the term, 53% of the cases which occurred in the second half of the term had no evidence of infection with influenza virus. Between 5 February and 31 March 28 boys presented with skin rashes consistent with a clinical diagnosis of erythema infectiosum; 68% of these were associated with parvovirus B19. Investigation of the cases of clinical influenza with no identified respiratory pathogen revealed a 58% infection rate with B19. B19 DNA was identified in either throat swabs or acute stage bloods of nine pupils with influenza-like symptoms.

Cohort studies revealed that 44% of pupils aged 15–16 years were immune before the outbreak compared with only 17% of pupils aged 11–12 years. Infection in the younger group was common and was associated with influenzalike illnesses as well as rashes. Forty-eight per cent of those who did not report any symptoms were also infected with B19.

Type
Research Article
Information
Epidemiology & Infection , Volume 103 , Issue 2 , October 1989 , pp. 359 - 369
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1989

References

REFERENCES

1.Davies, JR, Grilli, EA.Natural or vaccine-induced antibody as a predictor of immunity in the face of natural challenge with influenza viruses. Epidemiol Infect 1989; 102: 325–33.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
2.Grilli, EA, Smith, AJ.The use of a radial haemolysis test for neuraminidase antibodies in the diagnosis of influenza A infection. J Hyg 1983; 91: 147–56.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
3.Anderson, MJ, Jones, SE, Minson, AC.Diagnosis of human parvovirus infection by dot-blot hybridisation using cloned viral DNA. J Med Virol 1985; 15: 163–72.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
4.Cohen, BJ, Mortimer, PP, Pereira, MS.Diagnostic assays with monoclonal antibodies for the human serum parvovirus-like virus (SPLV). J Hyg 1983; 91: 113–30.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
5.Hoskins, TW, Davies, JR, Smith, AJ, Allcin, A, Miller, CL, Pollock, TM.Influenza at Christ's Hospital: 03, 1974. Lancet 1976; 1: 105–8.Google Scholar
6.Hoskins, TW, Davies, JR, Smith, AJ, Miller, CL, Allchin, A.Assessment of inactivated influenza-A vaccine after three outbreaks of influenza A at Christ's Hospital. Lancet 1979; 1: 33–5.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
7.Davies, JR, Grilli, EA, Smith, AJ.Infection with influenza A H1N1. 2. The effect of past experience on natural challenge. J Hyg 1986; 96: 345–52.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
8.Anderson, MJ, Lewis, E, Kidd, IM, Hall, SM.An outbreak of erythema infectiosum associated with human parvovirus infection. J Hyg 1984; 93: 85–93.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
9.Anderson, MJ, Higgins, PG, Davis, LR. et al. Experimental parvoviral infection in humans. J Infect Dis 1985; 152, 257–65.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
10.Anderson, MJ, Cohen, BJ.Human parvovirus B19 infections in United Kingdom 1984–86. Lancet 1987; 1: 738–9.CrossRefGoogle Scholar