9-YEAR STUDY OF WHO VIRUS REPORTS ON FATAL VIRAL-INFECTIONS

Google Scholar
  • 1 January 1977
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 55  (4) , 445-453
Abstract
In 1963, the WHO established a system for the collection and distribution of information on viruses. The present study is based on 2737 reports of fatal viral infections received from laboratories in 39 of 47 countries participating in the scheme. In the industrially developed countries, from which most of the reports came, more than 1/3 of the total number of deaths were associated with influenza A virus, while in the developing countries, the enteroviruses, particularly poliovirus, came high on the list. In general a steady increase in the number of reports received by WHO was noted, especially during the last 3 yr. The greatest variations in the yearly number of reports were seen in those concerning influenza A virus, and coincided with the clinical and epidemiological patterns observed since the advent of the A/Hong Kong/68 strain. In children death was most frequently associated with enteroviruses, and in adults, with influenza A virus. Some of the viruses, particularly herpesvirus, were reported in children and adults. Overall, respiratory diseases were the most frequent cause of death, mainly because of influenza A virus infection; next most frequent were herpesvirus infections, especially of the CNS, and particularly among young adults. The findings in this study confirm that it is the most serious CNS viral infection in the developed world. The enteroviruses are still the most important killers in the developing world and the cases occur among infants and young children. Poliovirus, particularly type 1, is still the most prevalent.