The Nation - News from Nov. 22, 1987

At least two influenza strains will infect people in the United States this winter, federal health officials in Atlanta said, and the first cases have already been reported in three states. A flu virus known as A-Leningrad has been identified in patients in California, South Dakota and Wyoming, the national Centers for Disease Control said. The A-Leningrad has historically caused higher death tolls and more hospitalizations and absenteeism than the other two current types of influenza, B-Ann Arbor and A-Taiwan. Nancy Arden of the CDC said that A-Leningrad and influenza-B “will be the predominant strains this winter.” She said it is also possible that A-Taiwan will return again this year.