BACKGROUND: A large number of 2009 pandemic influenza A (H1N1) infections were localized in school populations. OBJECTIVES: To describe the epidemiology, clinical features and risk factors associated with an outbreak that occurred at a vocational boarding school in Guangzhou, P.R. China. STUDY DESIGN: Data were collected prospectively and retrospectively through the use of on-site doctors and a post-outbreak survey and blood collection. The survey was used to confirm symptoms, and to investigate a series of flu-related factors such as dormitory conditions, health habits, vaccine history and population contact history. Blood samples were taken for serological analysis. Pandemic H1N1 infection was initially confirmed by a real-time RT-PCR assay. Following the identification of the outbreak by the Guangzhou CDC on September 4, cases were diagnosed symptomatically and retrospectively by serological analysis using the hemagglutination inhibition assay and a neutralization assay. RESULTS: The infection rate was 32% (505/1570) and the attack rate was 22.2% (349/1570). The asymptomatic infection rate was 9.9% (156/1570). Sharing a classroom (OR=2.17, 95% CI: 1.62-2.91) and dormitory space (OR=2.32, 95% CI: 1.84-2.93) was associated with higher rates of infection. Opening windows for ventilation was the only control measure that significantly protected against infection. CONCLUSION: Social isolation and quarantine should be used to prevent the spread of infection. Ventilation and a control of air flow between classrooms and dorms should be implemented as possible. School closures may be effective if implemented early.
BACKGROUND: A large number of 2009 pandemic influenza A (H1N1) infections were localized in school populations. OBJECTIVES: To describe the epidemiology, clinical features and risk factors associated with an outbreak that occurred at a vocational boarding school in Guangzhou, P.R. China. STUDY DESIGN: Data were collected prospectively and retrospectively through the use of on-site doctors and a post-outbreak survey and blood collection. The survey was used to confirm symptoms, and to investigate a series of flu-related factors such as dormitory conditions, health habits, vaccine history and population contact history. Blood samples were taken for serological analysis. Pandemic H1N1infection was initially confirmed by a real-time RT-PCR assay. Following the identification of the outbreak by the Guangzhou CDC on September 4, cases were diagnosed symptomatically and retrospectively by serological analysis using the hemagglutination inhibition assay and a neutralization assay. RESULTS: The infection rate was 32% (505/1570) and the attack rate was 22.2% (349/1570). The asymptomatic infection rate was 9.9% (156/1570). Sharing a classroom (OR=2.17, 95% CI: 1.62-2.91) and dormitory space (OR=2.32, 95% CI: 1.84-2.93) was associated with higher rates of infection. Opening windows for ventilation was the only control measure that significantly protected against infection. CONCLUSION: Social isolation and quarantine should be used to prevent the spread of infection. Ventilation and a control of air flow between classrooms and dorms should be implemented as possible. School closures may be effective if implemented early.
Authors: Jeffrey D Sachs; Salim S Abdool Karim; Lara Aknin; Joseph Allen; Kirsten Brosbøl; Francesca Colombo; Gabriela Cuevas Barron; María Fernanda Espinosa; Vitor Gaspar; Alejandro Gaviria; Andy Haines; Peter J Hotez; Phoebe Koundouri; Felipe Larraín Bascuñán; Jong-Koo Lee; Muhammad Ali Pate; Gabriela Ramos; K Srinath Reddy; Ismail Serageldin; John Thwaites; Vaira Vike-Freiberga; Chen Wang; Miriam Khamadi Were; Lan Xue; Chandrika Bahadur; Maria Elena Bottazzi; Chris Bullen; George Laryea-Adjei; Yanis Ben Amor; Ozge Karadag; Guillaume Lafortune; Emma Torres; Lauren Barredo; Juliana G E Bartels; Neena Joshi; Margaret Hellard; Uyen Kim Huynh; Shweta Khandelwal; Jeffrey V Lazarus; Susan Michie Journal: Lancet Date: 2022-09-14 Impact factor: 202.731
Authors: Rebekah H Borse; Sundar S Shrestha; Anthony E Fiore; Charisma Y Atkins; James A Singleton; Carolyn Furlow; Martin I Meltzer Journal: Emerg Infect Dis Date: 2013-03 Impact factor: 6.883
Authors: Aharona Glatman-Freedman; Ian Portelli; Susan K Jacobs; Justin I Mathew; Jonathan E Slutzman; Lewis R Goldfrank; Silas W Smith Journal: PLoS One Date: 2012-11-30 Impact factor: 3.240