Influenza in Hospital 1960-1961

Role of infection in the Guillain-Barre syndrome

“…As further evidence against such an association, two recent winter outbreaks of true influenza in the west Midlands merit attention. The first (1960-61) was a widespread epidemic due to influenza A2 virus (Hearn, 1963); the second (1961-62), due to influenza B, was of more limited extent and severity. During these outbreaks the incidence of the Guillain-Barrt syndrome was not particularly high in' our experience, and proportionally the largest number of cases occurred from November 1959 to October 1960, when the prevalence of influenza was comparatively low.…”