London flu

In December 1972 reports began to circulate of cases of 'London flu' throughout the United States. 'London flu' was a particular form of influenza caused by an influenza virus which had apparently first been identified in India in 1971, but was first identified as a distinct strain in England early in 1972.[1]

Progression within the United States

On 14 December it was reported by the federal Center for Disease Control (CDC) that there were cases in five states: Memphis, Kansas City, Baltimore, Anchorage and Seattle.[2] By 22 December, it was described as a variant of Hong-Kong flu, 'A-England 72' (following 70 cases having been identified in England) with outbreaks in 2 colleges in South Massachusetts.[3]

By 29 December it was reported as present in 14 states, with 'thousands' of cases, with San Francisco Bay the latest to be hit.[1] On the next day a further state was reported to be affected.[4]

A TV report on 8 January 1973 announced that 18 states were affected, and in the United Kingdom there had been over 1,000 deaths.[5] On 13 January the New York Times announced that the CDC considered that the outbreak exceeded epidemic level, with California particularly hard hit.[6]

On 3 February, London flu deaths in the US reached 1,027, according to the National Center for Disease Control, nearing the previous year's death toll for Hong Kong flu.[7]

International reports

The World Health Organization reported outbreaks also in the Soviet Union, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Morocco and Lebanon, with localised outbreaks in four other countries.[7]

Analysis

Subsequent statistical analysis indicated that by the following season (1973–1974), influenza type B was predominating over type A strains by a factor approaching 4:1.[8]

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References
  1. Lawrence K. Altman: Sniffles? Flu Virus Takes Toll 29 December 1972, www.nytimes.com, accessed 13 February 2020
  2. St. Louis Post-Dispatch from St. Louis, Missouri 14 December 1972, (Page 25) www.newspapers.com, accessed 13 February 2020
  3. Influenza Outbreak In ‘Critical’ Period For Impact on U.S. 22 December 1972, www.nytimes.com, accessed 13 February 2020
  4. London Flu Outbreaks Spread 30 December 1972, Desert Sun via cdnc.ucr.edu, accessed 13 February 2020
  5. London Flu #23190 8 January 1973 ABC Evening News via tvnews.vanderbilt.edu, accessed 13 February 2020
  6. FLU NOW EXCEEDS EPIDEMIC LEVEL 13 January 1973, www.nytimes.com, accessed 13 February 2020
  7. London-Flu Deaths Exceed 1,000 Mark 3 February 1973 Desert Sun via cdnc.ucr.edu, accessed 13 February 2020
  8. Influenza surveillance report no. 90, 1973-1974 and 1974-1975 February 1976 stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/286, accessed 13 February 2020
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