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Investigations pointed out the high level of respiratory diseases and pneumonias in children, especially in the youngest ones (0-1 year-old) during all the surveyed period. An influenza outbreak during the second half of February was registered in the infantile population--school and low-age children--which gave most of the cases. Serology and isolations incriminated an influenza virus related to the A/Beijing 353/89 (H3N2) strain. Isolations worked out after the influenza epidemics pointed out circulation of parainfluenza and adenoviruses. The necessity is emphasized of the anti-influenza vaccination of low-age children.

A study was performed on 756 serum samples collected from the umbilical cord of newborn infants. HBV markers were found in 4.63% of the tested subjects. Of these samples, 291 were tested for the HIV markers and 0.34% were found positive (versus 0 in the controls, most of them men from the same region). Results confirmed the possibility of vertical transmission of both viruses, HBV and HIV, in Romania.

A study was conducted on the specific and non specific immunomodulator effects of the inactivated vaccine NIVGRIP. The results revealed the seroconversion of HAI antibodies against influenza and mumps viruses and the reduction of viral and microbial flora of the pharynx. The kinetics of some proteins specific to the acute stage (siderophiline antitrypsin, microglobulin, complement C1q and C2 factors, C reactive protein and fibronectin) was also investigated and significant quantitative modifications were noticed in vaccinated subjects. The mean illness duration (acute respiratory disease) was three times as short in vaccinated subjects as in controls.

The presence of some viral and inframicrobial antigens in peripheral leukocytes was investigated by the indirect immunofluorescence technique in 120 patients with different forms of rheumatism and 50 clinically healthy controls. Mycoplasma pneumoniae and type 3 para-influenza virus were detected most frequently. The determination of serum interferon titer revealed a rise of this product in rheumatic patients.

An acute respiratory disease outbreak appeared during February and March 1988 in a half-closed community. Virologic investigations were conducted and an influenza virus type B strain was isolated, antigenically like B/Victoria 2/87. Administration of the anti-influenza vaccine in the fifth day of the outbreak evolution led to considerable reduction of the new cases and to outbreak extinction after 48 hours.

An outbreak of 111 cases of acute respiratory tract infection was recorded in a community of the town "T" in April-May 1984. The clinical picture was severer than usual; 28% of the cases had to be hospitalized, average absenteeism being as high as 26 days per case. Serological investigations demonstrated the previous circulation of influenza virus B/Singapore/222/79 and the simultaneous circulation during the outbreak of influenza virus A/England/333/80 (H1N1) and of Rickettsia burneti (as also ascertained by isolation in the chick embryo of the former and by visualization by immunofluorescence in exfoliated cells of the latter pathogen). The association of the two etiological agents appears to account for the severe and protracted course of the disease.

HBs antigen (HBsAg) incidence and subtype ratio were studied in apparently healthy HBsAg carriers and correlated with the ABO blood group of the subjects investigated. The incidence of subjects belonging to blood group AB was higher among the healthy carriers than in the unselected normal population, and the ay : ad ratio was much lower in this blood group than in the other ones.

The results obtained by subtyping and titration of 872 HBsAg from apparently healthy carriers were grouped according to blood group and sex. The incidence of blood group AB is higher among healthy HBsAg carriers than in the unselected population. There are large variations as regards the ay : ad ratio (overall mean value : 4.74) : minimal ay : ad values occur in the AB blood group, both in men (4.00) and in women (1.33), as compared with the mean values of 5.07 and 2.95 recorded in men and women, respectively. Titer analysis shows a cluster of higher titers in women. The involvement of immunogenetic mechanisms in asymptomatic HBsAg carriage is suggested.

The incidence of HBsAg in several areas of Romania was studied by 253,460 routine determinations performed from 1973 to 1975. HBsAg incidence was of 1.5% in blood donors and reached the highest value in acute viral hepatitis patients undifferentiated according to the clinical form. The values obtained were in agreement with the results of other studies covering more limited zones of the country. Considerable differences in HBsAg incidence depending on geographic area were observed.