Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health

The Korean Society for Preventive Medicine (대한예방의학회)
권호 표지
DOI QR코드

DOI QR Code

An Outbreak of Novel Influenza A (H1N1) in the English Language Institute

  • Received : 2009.11.19
  • Accepted : 2010.02.08
  • Published : 2010.05.31
Download PDF
⟨ Previous Next ⟩

Abstract

Objectives: This report describes the results of an investigation on an outbreak of novel influenza A (H1N1) in an English language Institute in Seoul, Korea in May 2009. Methods: In this outbreak, novel influenza A (H1N1) was confirmed in 22 of 91 trainees, trainers and staff members. The trainees and 2 staff members were isolated in an assigned facility and the rest were isolated in their homes after we discovered the first patient with novel influenza A (H1N1). After the isolation, the people in the assigned facility were educated to use N95 respirators and they received oseltamivir for prophylaxis. Results: The initial findings in this study suggest that the symptoms were mild and similar to those of seasonal influenza. The classmates and roommates of the infected patients were more likely to get infected with novel influenza A (H1N1) than the trainees who were not classmates or roommates of the patients (OR: 3.19, 95% Cl=0.91 - 11.11 for classmates and OR: 40.0, 95% Cl=7.4-215.7 for roommates). Conclusions: The public health response seems successful in terms of preventing the spread of this virus into the local community.

Keywords

References

  1. World Health Organization. Influenza A (H1N1) - update 9. [cited 2009 July 24]; Available from: http://www.who. int/csr/don/2009_05_02/en/index.html.
  2. Health Protection Agency West midlands H1N1v Investigation Team. Preliminary descriptive epidemiology of a large school outbreak of influenza A(H1N1)v in the West Midlands, United Kingdom, May 2009. Euro Surveill 2009; 14(27).
  3. Guinard A, Grout L, Durand C, Schwoebel V. Outbreak of influenza A(H1N1)v without travel history in a school in the Toulouse district, France, June 2009. Euro Surveill 2009; 14(27).
  4. Smith A, Coles S, Johnson S, Saldana L, Ihekweazu C, O'Moore E. An outbreak of influenza A(H1N1)v in a boarding school in South East England, May-June 2009. Euro Surveill 2009; 14(27).
  5. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Swineorigin influenza A (H1N1) virus infections in a school - New York city, April 2009. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2009; 58(17): 470-472.
  6. Cao B, Li XW, Mao Y, Wang J, Lu HZ, Chen YS, et al. Clinical features of the initial cases of 2009 pandemic influenza A (H1N1) virus infection in China. N Engl J Med 2009; 361(26): 2507-2517. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa0906612
  7. Rello J, Rodriguez A, Ibañez P, Socias L, Cebrian J, Marques A, et al. Intensive care adult patients with severe respiratory failure caused by Influenza A (H1N1) v in Spain. Crit Care 2009; 13(5): R148. https://doi.org/10.1186/cc8044
  8. United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Interim Recommendations for Clinical Use of Influenza Diagnostic Tests During the 2009-10 Influenza Season. [cited 2009 Sep 30]. Available from: http://www.cdc.gov/ h1n1flu/guidance/ diagnostic_tests.htm.
  9. Carrat F, Vergu E, Ferguson NM, Lemaiter M, Cauchemez S, Leach S, et al. Time lines of infection and disease in human influenza: A review of volunteer challenge studies. Am J Epidemiol 2008; 167(7): 775-785. https://doi.org/10.1093/aje/kwm375
  10. Shimada T, Gu Y, Kamiya H, Komiya N, Odaira F, Sunagawa T, TAkahashi H, et al. Epidemiology of influenza A (H1N1) v virus infection in Japan, May-June 2009. Euro Surveill 2009; 14(24).

Cited by

  1. In-Flight Transmission of Novel Influenza A (H1N1) vol.32, pp.None, 2010, https://doi.org/10.4178/epih/e2010006