[An outbreak of influenza in hospital personnel]

During the last week of December 1989, an outbreak of respiratory system infection involved 32 hospital personnel and 2 patients was detected in Gazi University Medical Faculty Hospital. White blood cells count of the patients were either normal or there were a slight leucopenia. Throat cultures of the most patients were normal. Serum ASO, CRP, bilirubin, AST and ALT were usually within normal limits. According to symptoms, signs and laboratory data we considered a viral disease, especially influenza. All patients recovered without any sequelae. Of 34 in-patients, 8 paired sera, 2 acute phase sera, and 10 convalescent phase sera were tested for the presence of Hemagglutination Inhibition (HI) antibody to three influenza virus strains recommended by WHO in the 1989-1990 season: Influenza A/Taiwan/1/86 (H1 N1), Influenza A/Shanghai/11/87 (H3 N2), Influenza B/Victoria/2/87. All of the sera were negative for Influenza B/Victoria/2/87. There were no significant rises in HT antibody titer for Influenza A/Taiwan/1/86 (H1 N1). The sera for 4 of 8 patients examined both acute and convalescent phase sera had fourfold or greater rise in HI antibody for Influenza A/Shanghai/11/87 (H3 N2). Four patients examined only convalescent sera had 1/40 or greater rises in HI antibody for this influenza subtype. It was considered that this influenza outbreak was probably caused by Influenza A/Shanghai/11/87 (H3 N2).