An outbreak of influenza a in the highlands of Papua New Guinea.

ABSTRACT

In December 1982 and the early months of 1983, there was increased reporting of influenza-like illness from hospitals and health centres across the highlands region of Papua New Guinea. During this period, which fell in the highland wet season, influenza A viruses were isolated in routine surveillance specimens from a population of monitored children in the Goroka area in the Eastern Highlands. Influenza A viruses were also isolated in the investigation of a nearby rural outbreak of influenza-like illness. Samples of viruses isolated in these investigations were serotyped as most resembling the A/Philippines/2/82 strain. The contribution of these findings to the epidemiology of influenza in tropical countries, the role of influenza in the pathogenesis of pneumonia and possible interactions with bacteria and porcine influenza strains was discussed.