Miller DL, Pereira MS, Clarke M. Epidemiology of the Hong Kong-68 variant of influenza A2 in Britain.
BRITISH MEDICAL JOURNAL 1971;
1:475-9. [PMID:
5101353 PMCID:
PMC1795206 DOI:
10.1136/bmj.1.5747.475]
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Abstract
Two influenza epidemics in Britain in 1968-9 and 1969-70, were due to the Hong Kong/68 variant of influenza A2 virus. The first epidemic was prolonged with low morbidity and mortality rates; the second was sharp with high rates. The difference between total morbidity and mortality in the two epidemics, however, was less than it appeared to be-the estimated excess morbidity and mortality due to all causes in 1969-70 was only about 50% greater than in 1968-9.Antibody studies showed that about one-quarter of two groups of adults investigated were infected in the first epidemic and about one-third in the second. After the two epidemics about one-third still had no antibody to the A2/Hong Kong/68 virus.
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