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Abstract
---,
"Influenza
B virus outbreak on a
cruise ship--Northern Europe, 2000," Morbidity
and Mortality Weekly Report, 2001,
50:8 (
Mar 2), 137-40. Also JAMA, 2001, 285:14 (Apr 11), 1833-4.
During June 23-July 5, 2000,
an
outbreak of respiratory illnesses occurred on the MS Rotterdam (Holland
America Line & Windstar Cruises) during a 12-day Baltic cruise from
the United Kingdom to Germany via Russia. The ship carried 1311
passengers, primarily from the United States, and 506 crew members from
many countries. Although results of rapid viral testing for influenza A
and B viruses were negative, immunofluorescence staining and viral
culture results implicated influenza B virus infection as the cause of
the outbreak. This report summarizes the findings of the outbreak
investigation conducted by the ship's medical department and describes
the measures taken to control the outbreak. Travelers at high risk for
complications of influenza who were not vaccinated with influenza
vaccine during the preceding fall or winter should consider receiving
influenza vaccine before travel with large tourist groups at any time
of year or to certain regions of the world.
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