Observations on Asian Influenza on Two Alaskan Islands

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Abstract
Asian influenza outbreaks occurred during October and November 1957 in the remote communities, St. Paul, Pribilof Islands, and Gam bell, St. Lawrence Island, Alaska. Introduction of virus into each village could be dated precisely and in each instance was attributed to a returning serviceman. Two hundred and ninety-four (82%) of 358 St. Paul residents and 262 (87%) of 300 Gambell Eskimos were ill during the outbreaks. Attack rates were higher among the Aleut than the white residents of St. Paul. Attack rates were higher among children than adults, but the difference was not so great as generally noted with Asian influenza. The disease was generally mild and clinically similar to influenza noted elsewhere. There were 2 deaths in St. Paul. Pulmonary complications were somewhat more frequent than generally noted. There was, however, no evidence that such complications were viral in origin or that the epidemic strain of virus was more virulent than observed elsewhere. Both villages had high prevalence, prior to the outbreaks, of HI antibodies to type A and A'' influenza. Distribution of these antibodies by age indicated that type A influenza last occurred in 1943-1944 and A'' within recent years. Antibodies to the swine strain were infrequent in all age groups, and there was no historical evidence to indicate that influenza occurred in either community in 1918-1919. Persons were type A and A'' antibodies were as susceptible to illness during the outbreaks as persons without these antibodies. Prevalence of Asian influenza HI antibodies was low before but high after each outbreak.