Influenza surveillance report no. 77, June 14, 1963 ; Recommendations for influenza immunization and control in the civilian population

"Epidemics of influenza-like disease became widespread in several areas of the Eastern United States during January. The first confirmed outbreak of the season began early in the month in Robeson County in southern North Carolina. Adjacent counties in North Carolina and contiguous areas of South Carolina became progressively involved. By February 15, outbreaks of inf1uenza-like il1ness had been reported from the District of Columbia and 15 States, including North Carolina, Maryland, Virginia, Delaware, Kansas, Illinois, Georgia, Maine, Vermont, South Carolina, New York, Massachusetts, Ohio, Kentucky, and West Virginia. Influenza A2 virus had been confirmed by isolation or by serologic titer rise as the causative agent in outbreaks in the District of Columbia, North Carolina, Maryland, Kansas, New York, and at the Great Lakes Naval Training Station in Illinois. During the month of January, the pattern of spread of disease confined itself to a northerly and southerly direction along the Atlantic Seaboard. The early confirmed outbreaks in Kansas City and Chicago areas occurred in rather specialized population groups, and it was not until February that: community-wide outbreaks were seen in these areas. Figure 1 shows the distribution of outbreaks through February 15. In early February, outbreaks in West Virginia, Kentucky, and Ohio suggested the beginning of a westerly spread, which was confirmed when, by late February J large segments of Middle 'Western and South Central States became involved. By the first week of March, outbreaks of influenza-like disease had been reported from the District of Columbia and 35 States, all east of the Rocky Mountains with the exception of focal outbreaks in Montana and Arizona. Influenza A2 virus was implicated as the etiologic agent in one or more outbreaks in twelve more States including Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Iowa, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, Ohio, South Carolina, Virginia, and Wisconsin. By early March, outbreaks were subsiding in most affected ...