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Virus isolation attempts were made with nasopharyngeal secretions from 400 apparently healthy 0-5-year-old children of a semi-closed community. Repeated virus isolations were achieved in 25 cases subjected to periodic investigations in 1982-83. One-two reisolation(s), 1-5 months apart, of the initially detected viral agents could be obtained in 15 out of the 25 children. The following viruses were reisolated (in decreasing order of frequency): adenoviruses, respiratory syncytial virus, Coxsackie B1 virus, herpes virus type 1, parainfluenza virus type 3. The problems raised by the carriage of respiratory viruses in the nasopharynx of apparently healthy children are discussed.

The NIVGRIP inactivated influenza vaccine prepared in the "Stefan S. Nicolau" Institute of Virology was administered by oral route to 3-6-year-old children of a preschool community in October 1981, 1982 and 1983. There were no cases of acute respiratory tract infection (ARTI) in the community in the winter seasons of 1981-82, 1982-83 and 1983-84, with the exception of 3 ARTI cases recorded in February 1982 in unvaccinated children. In a similar community where no vaccination had been performed morbidity by ARTI was of 20% in 1982-83 and 12.6% in 1983-84. The efficiency and the advantages of oral influenza vaccination are outlined.