Influenza in General Practice

General practitioners become heavily involved during influenza epidemics, with disruption of their routine. New South Wales influenza deaths in 1970, the highest since the introduction of antibacterial drugs, are contrasted with those In 1919, and the value and limitations of antibacterials discussed. Problems in the clinical diagnosis of influenza and in the domiciliary care of patients by the general practitioner are dealt with. From the failure of influenza virus subunit vaccine in 1972, compared with its efficacy in 1970, a group of general practitioners were able to suggest the presence of a new antigenic variant of influenza A.