SEROSURVEY FOR “ACUTE HEMORRHAGIC CONJUNCTIVITIS” VIRUS (ENTEROVIRUS 70) ANTIBODIES IN THE SOUTHEASTERN UNITED STATES, WITH REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE AND SOME EPIDEMIOLOGIC IMPLICATIONS1

Abstract

Hierholzer. J. C. (CDC. Atlanta. GA 30333). K A. Hilliard and J. J. Esposito. Serosurvey for “acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis” virus (enterovirus 70) antibodies in the southeastern United States, with review of the literature and some epidemiologic implications. Am J Epidemiol 102:533–544. 1975. Acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis (AHC) has been epidemic throughout much of the Eastern Hemisphere since its emergence in central West Africa in 1969. The disease has a distinctive clinical picture and an unusual geographic epidemiology. Between 1969 and 1975 AHC has occurred almost exclusively in crowded coastal areas of tropical countries during hot, rainy seasons. Only a few documented outbreaks have occurred in inland cities and in subtropical or temperate climate zones. Of 1014 residents of the eastern or southeastern United States who were screened for neutralizing antibodies to three or four strains of AHCvirus (enterovirus type 70), three (0.3%) had titers ranging from 1:10 to 1:40. However, no clinical evidence of prior experience with AHC disease could be ascertained forthese persons, so that the antigenic specificity of the detected antibodies is unknown. We conclude that populations of coastal tropical areas of northern South America and all of Central America are vulnerable to AHC epidemics.