Respiratory illness occurred in members of a "package tour" to Benidorm, Spain, in 1973. Three of the tourists died with similar pneumonic illnesses, and 86 other travellers who had stayed at the same hotel also had respiratory illnesses. After the organism associated with the epidemic of Legionnaires' disease in Philadelphia 3 years later was identified, sera from patients involved with the "Benidorm episode" were tested. Evidence of infection with the Legionnaires' disease bacterium was obtained from sera from three of the patients who had died and from sera of two of the surviving tourists. Six of 16 members of the staff of the hotel involved had elevated titres to the LD bacterium, suggesting that there may be persistent or recurrent activity in a particular building or locality over a period of years. Surveys of travellers returning to Scotland have shown a large amount of illness, and studies are being conducted to determine the proportion caused by Legionnaires' disease.

Adult↗

PubMed1978

Surveillance of hepatitis in laboratory staff: a seven year study.

Enquiry by questionnaire showed that the attack rate of hepatitis in clinical laboratory staff in Britain had fallen to 35 per 100,000 person-years in 1975--76 from 111 in 1970--72 and 143 in 1973--74. This suggests that increased awareness and application of safety precautions have been effective.

Health Surveys↗

PubMed1978

Whooping-cough vaccination.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Evaluation Studies as Topic↗

PubMed1978

Immune status of children of immigrants to poliomyelitis.

Four ethnic groups of children from the Glasgow area--155 Asians, 85 Africans, 85 Chinese, and 93 Scots--were examined for neutralising to poliovirus types 1, 2, and 3. Only seven of the 418 children had no detectable antibody, and of these, four were aged less than 7 months; none had received polio vaccine. The best-protected children were the Chinese (93% with antibody to all three poliovirus types), followed by the African (81%), Scottish (78%), and Asian children (77%). We conclude that children of immigrants are no more vulnerable to poliovirus infection than their Scottish counterparts.

Africa↗

PubMed1978

Role of Coxsackie B viruses in myocardial infarction.

Serological evidence of Coxsackie B virus infection was found in 13.5 per cent of 52 patients with acute myocardial infarction and in 19 per cent of 52 controls with chest pain but normal electrocardiograms. In contrast to an Australian report, but in agreement with previous findings in Glasgow, it seems unlikely that Coxsackie B viruses contribute significantly to the causation of myocardial infarction.

Adult↗

PubMed1978

Hepatitis in clinical laboratories 1975-76.

The survey of British laboratories in 1970-74 was continued by a questionnaire to members of the Association of Clinical Pathologists covering the next two years. Only nine cases of hepatitis (three of hepatitis B) were reported. The annual attack rate of 34 per 100 000 was only one-quarter of that in earlier years. The findings suggest that control measures have had considerable success.

Hepatitis↗

PubMed1978

Illness associated with "package tours": a combined Spanish-Scottish study.

The occurrence of three deaths and substantial morbidity among members of a "package tour" who stayed at the same hotel in Benidorm, Spain, during the summer of 1973 provided an opportunity to study the experiences of persons undertaking this type of holiday and some of the factors that might affect their health. Of 252 tourists, 164 (65%) reported illness, 86 of those affected (52%) having respiratory symptoms. The three persons who died had predisposing factors and all had lobar pneumonia. In the control group of 157 persons, who stayed at other hotels in Benidorm, 82 (53%) experienced ill-health during their stay but fewer (38%) had respiratory illnesses. The study demonstrated some of the hazards encountered by the inexperienced traveller and also indicated the need to improve surveillance of what appears to be an unexpectedly large amount of illness among international tourists.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1978