LACK OF SIGNIFICANT PERSON-TO-PERSON SPREAD OF SWINE INFLUENZA-LIKE VIRUS FOLLOWING FATAL INFECTION IN AN IMMUNOCOMPROMISED CHILD

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Abstract
Patrlarca, P. A. (influenza Branch, Div. of Viral Diseases, CDC, Atlanta, GA, 30333), A. P. Kendal, P. C. Zakowskl, N. J. Cox, M. S. Trautman, J. D. Cherry, D. M. Auerbach, J. McCusker, R. R. Belllveau and K. D. Kappus. Lack of significant person-to-person spread of swine influenza-like virus following fatal infection in an immunocompromlsed child. Am J Epidemiol 1984; 119: 152–8. In February 1982, a four-year-old Nevada girl with acute lymphoblastlc leukemia in remission was hospitalized with fulminant pneumonia and died eight days later at a hospital in California. An influenza virus was the only pathogen detected, and was present in both antemortem and postmortem specimens. The virus was closely related antlgenlcally to A/New Jersey/8/76 (H1N1) and had a genome very similar to a contemporary enzootlc swine influenza virus. The patient had had no known contact with swine, and the source of infection could not be determined. Only five possible secondary cases could be detected by retrospective investigation of 62 contacts, and there was no evidence of spread to the general community. Swine influenza viruses circulate among pigs in the United States annually, and it is likely that sporadic transmissions to humans will continue to be detected. Nevertheless, person-to-person spread under these circumstances appears to be limited.