The 1997-1998 influenza season in Canada began in early November 1997 and continued until May 1998. Figure 1 shows the numbers of and the months of laboratory-confirmed influenza virus isolations, detections, and serodiagnoses. Table 1 indicates the provincial source and identity of submitted isolates. The collaboration of laboratories in the CVR program and of provincial and hospital laboratories that forwarded early and representative isolates of influenza virus is a vital part of influenza surveillance in Canada. Carol Stansfield of LCDC conducted the influenza strain typing.
Canadian laboratory diagnoses and strain characterization.
Influenza in Canada 1996-1997 season. Buck P, Herman S, Scott C et al. Respiratory virus surveillance FluWatch project. World Health Organization. Recommended composition of influenza virus vaccines for use in the 1998-1999 season.