American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
Volume 31, Issue 3 I, 1982, Pages 541-547

Acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis in southeast Asian refugees arriving in the United States - isolation of enterovirus 70 (Article)

Bernard K.W. , Hierholzer J.C. , Dugan J.B. , DeLay P.R. , Helmick C.G.
  • a Viral Dis. Div., Cent. Infect. Dis., Cent. Dis. Contr., PHS, US Dept. Hlth Hum. Serv., Atlanta, GA 30333, United States
  • b Viral Dis. Div., Cent. Infect. Dis., Cent. Dis. Contr., PHS, US Dept. Hlth Hum. Serv., Atlanta, GA 30333, United States
  • c Viral Dis. Div., Cent. Infect. Dis., Cent. Dis. Contr., PHS, US Dept. Hlth Hum. Serv., Atlanta, GA 30333, United States
  • d [Affiliation not available]
  • e [Affiliation not available]

Abstract

During July-September 1980, an epidemic of acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis (AHC) occurred in several refugee camps and transit centers in Southeast Asia. Of 2,356 refugees examined in Bangkok, 200 (8.5%) had conjunctivitis, including 116 (58%) with hemorrhagic signs. Because increasing numbers of refugees were arriving in the United States with conjunctivitis, a program of surveillance and control was implemented. Enterovirus 70, not previously reported from patients in the Western Hemisphere, was cultured from four arriving refugees. A fourfold rise in titer to enterovirus 70 was found in 10 others, either in the United States or Thailand. After control measures were instituted, the prevalence of conjunctivitis in arriving refugees declined from 49.8 per 1,000 to 3.8 per 1,000. Follow-up of cases after arrival in the United States revealed only one possible secondary case. Extensive epidemics of AHC in the Western Hemisphere are most likely to occur following importation into the humid, coastal areas of Central and South America.

Author Keywords

[No Keywords available]

Index Keywords

California Hemorrhage Enterovirus geographic distribution conjunctivitis virus infection Enterovirus Infections Human enterovirus 70 visual system hemorrhagic conjunctivitis virus isolation diagnosis Follow-Up Studies Asia, Southeastern Thailand Humans Refugees
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-0019951459&partnerID=40&md5=6651210fe5482d03fdd988c9dd185995
ISSN: 00029637
Cited by: 8
Original Language: English