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Biotech / Medical : SARS and Avian Flu -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Henry Niman who wrote (934)	8/20/2003 10:30:56 PM
From: Biomaven	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 4232

Here's what I could find on PubMed relating to seasonality of coronavirus (but of course no real reason to assume that SARS will act the same way as the traditional human coronaviruses): Infection. 1980;8(2):70-2. Related Articles, Links A two year serological surveillance of coronavirus infections in Hamburg. Sarateanu DE, Ehrengut W. The occurrence of OC-43 coronarvirus-like infections in the population of Hamburg was determined by a monthly serological survey (hemagglutintion inhibition test [HI]) undertaken between October 1974 and October 1976. Studies of 3,016 sera revealed a high incidence of HI antibodies (58,2%). The frequency of seropositive reactions (= 1:8) and the geometric mean titer were higher in individuals 15 to 24 years old. Treatment of 50 postive sera (titer 1:16 -1:64) with receptor destroying enzyme, kaolin and ethacridin for elimination of nonspecific inhbitiros did not modify the HI-titer of the investigated sera. The serological seasonal pattern suggests that coronaviruses are circulating the whole year in the urban population with a prevlence in the fall-winter period. Of the 331 paired sera examined, 6.6% presented a four- to eightfold rise intiter within eight weeks. ------ J Clin Microbiol. 1996 Dec;34(12):3007-11. Related Articles, Links Surveillance of community-acquired viral infections due to respiratory viruses in Rhone-Alpes (France) during winter 1994 to 1995. Lina B, Valette M, Foray S, Luciani J, Stagnara J, See DM, Aymard M. Laboratoire de Virologie, Centre National de Reference de la Grippe-France Sud, Lyon, France. Nasal swab from patients with acute flu-like illness were evaluated for the presence of respiratory viruses in the Rhone-Alpes region of France from 1 October 1994 through 2 May 1995. The relative frequencies and seasonal distributions of the specific viruses were assessed. In addition, virus type was correlated with specific clinical signs and symptoms. During the study, 962 samples were collected by 75 medical practitioners participating in the Groupe Regional d'Observation de la Grippe surveillance network. One or more viruses were detected from 348 samples (36.1%), including 108 respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), 64 influenza virus A type H3N2, 47 influenza virus B, 64 coronavirus, 35 rhinovirus, 22 adenovirus, 5 enterovirus, and 3 parainfluenza-fluenza strains. There were 16 mixed infections. RSV infections peaked in the early winter, and influenza viruses A and B infections peaked during the late winter and early spring. There were two peaks of coronavirus infections (late fall and late winter). Other viruses were detected at lower levels throughout the study period. Patients from whom adenovirus was isolated were significantly more likely to have a fever of > 39.5 degrees C than were patients with other detectable viruses (P < 0.001). Furthermore, there was a significant correlation between influenza and cough (P < 0.01) and RSV and bronchiolitis (P < .001). Thus, the current study defined the overall and relative frequencies of respiratory virus detection from nasal swab specimens in patients with an acute flu-like illness in the Rhone-Alpes region of France during a 7-month period. Correlation with clinical signs and symptoms and provisional conclusions Peter

To: Henry Niman who wrote (934)	8/21/2003 12:06:40 PM
From: chomolungma	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 4232

However, the epidemic suddenly stopped, which is why I think there are seasonal factors. Flu pretty much disappears in the summer, but each fall it starts slow and then peaks in the winter, only to decline again in the spring. Does the lack of flu in the summer mean there isn't any summer infection or is it because it's milder and not noticed in the summer? Are there examples of other viruses producing milder symptoms in the summer, thereby spreading through the population unnoticed, only to emerge when the seasons change?