Heilbrigðisskýrslur - 05.12.1982, Page 38

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ABSTRACT
From June to December 1976, blood specimens were collected
from 1405 individuals of various age living in various places
in Iceland. The sera were tested for hemagglutination-inhibition
antibodies to three strains of influenza virus (A/New Jersey/8/76,
A/Victoria/3/75 and B/Hong Kong/5/72). The survey indicates that
the majority of older individuals who lived in those areas of
Iceland infected by the influenza epidemic of 1918 (the "Spanish
flu") have higher titres of antibodies to A/New Jersey/8/76
than those who lived in areas of the country, which were protected
from the great pandemic. It also indicates that related strains
must have prevailed in Iceland the following decade. The results
also suggest that the A/Victoria/3/75 strain has not caused an
epidemic in Iceland before this survey.
This work was carried out at
University of Iceland (Háskóli Islands)
Department of Microbiology, Virus Laboratory
(Rannsóknastofa í veirufræði)
Eiríksgata
Reykjavík
P.O.Box 855
Further information available at the above address.