Genome analysis of influenza B virus strains isolated during epidemics in boarding schools

Abstract

Genetic analysis of influenza B virus strains isolated during concurrent epidemics (February-March 1982) in three physically separated schools was carried out using the RNA:RNA hybridization technique. The data supports the hypothesis that the influenza B virus epidemics in each school were initiated by different viruses and the variability of the strains in a closed community was found to be minor though some variants were detected.