A high number of acute respiratory diseases was detected among children under one year admitted in a hospital of Havana City. 25 respiratory syncytial virus strains were obtained from 93 patients studied. Viral isolations were multiplied in HEP-2 cells and after observing a cytopathic effect of 80 %, they were classified into subgroups by the indirect immunofluorescence technique, using anti-protein G antibodies from the respiratory syncytial virus. All the samples studied were classified within subgroup A. It is the first time a study like this is conducted in our country, which allowed us to deepen into the viral cause of these diseases and to know that the subgroup A of the respiratory syncytial virus circulated during the outbreak.

Se detectó un alto número de casos de enfermedades respiratorias agudas en niños menores de 1 año, ingresados en un hospital de Ciudad de La Habana. De 93 pacientes estudiados se obtuvieron 25 cepas del virus sincitial respiratorio. Los aislamientos virales fueron multiplicados en células HEP-2, y después de observarse un efecto citopático del 80 % se clasificaron en subgrupos por la técnica de inmunofluorescencia indirecta, utilizando anticuerpos anti-proteína G del virus sincitial respiratorio. Todas las muestras estudiadas se clasificaron dentro del subgrupo A. Este tipo de estudio es el primero realizado en nuestro país, lo cual nos permitió profundizar en la causa viral de estas enfermedades y conocer que durante el brote circuló el subgrupo A del virus sincitial respiratorio.