Studies of the genetic susceptibility of individuals to infection with influenza viruses.

Nearly three and a half thousand sera obtained from various populations were tested serologically to obtain evidence of past infection with influenza A viruses that were prevalent from 1947 to 1972. No significant difference was found between the distributions of the levels of these antibodies of individuals of blood groups A and O, A1 and O, Rh (D+) and Rh (D-) and MM, MN and NN. The significance of these findings is discussed.