• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.110-117
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• 2016

Purpose: This study was conducted to compare the incidence rate of influenza-like illnesses between an influenza-vaccinated group and a non-vaccinated group of adults. Methods: From July 1, 2015 to July 30, 2015, self-reporting questionnaires were given to 300 adults living in the Seoul and Gyeonggi-do, Korea. 265 survey questionnaires that had an earnest response were used for data analysis. The collected data were analyzed using the statistical software SPSS Win 18.0 version. Results: 52.1% of the participants were vaccinated. The incidence rate of influenza-like illnesses was 11.3%. Within the influenza-vaccinated group, 12.3% experienced an influenza-like illness. On the other hand, in the non-vaccinated group, 10.2% experienced an influenza-like illness. There was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of influenza-like illness depending on vaccination status. Conclusion: During the influenza season from Fall 2014 to Spring 2015, there was no significant difference on the prevalence of influenza-like illness between the study participants whether they were vaccinated or not. Thus, future studies should confirm and closely examine this fact, whether it was a matter of pandemic strain selection or whether there were differences in the effects of adult influenza vaccination as reported in previous studies.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.507-511
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• 2022

Law enforcement officers (LEOs) often encounter rapidly changing and uncontrolled situations that expose them to various hazards. A law enforcement agency requested an evaluation by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) when multiple LEOs reported illness after executing a search warrant and taking a suspect into custody. NIOSH investigators interviewed LEOs and reviewed medical records, forensic laboratory results for collected evidence, and environmental testing results of samples taken after the operation. Two-thirds (25 of 38) of LEOs who participated in the operation reported ≥1 symptom. Eleven LEOs met a case definition for influenza-like illness (ILI). Members of one unit were more likely to have ILI than non-members (prevalence ratio (PR), 4.1; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.3-13.0; p = 0.01). Influenza vaccination was associated with a lower prevalence of ILI (PR, 0.2; 95% CI, 0.1-0.9; p = 0.02). Preventing employees from working while ill and annual influenza vaccination might prevent similar occurrences.

• The Journal of the Korean Society for Microbiology
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.9-13
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• 1987

During 31 days (5 week) from December 9th 1985 to January 8th 1986, Influenza B epidemic were observed in Seoul city. Epidemic peak was shown at 52nd week in 1985. The Epidemic associated viruses were determined as B/yamanish/510/84 and B/Ann Arbor/1/86-like strain. From total of 124 specimens of influenza-like illness children virus isolation rate were average 4.0%, much lower than that of influenza A virus isolation experience. In the epidemic influenza B infection were predominantly involved in school age children.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.53-59
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• 2005

Influenza is an important public health problem which occurs almost every winter in temperate climates and is often associated with increased rates of hospitalization and death. In 1999, our influenza surveillance was initiated with 4 voluntary sentinel physicians and the Public Health Center. During the 2003-2004 influenza season, 124 influenza viruses were isolated from 401 clinical specimens, which were collected from patients with Influenza-like illness(ILI) in Seoul. The case definition of ILI is a case with fever more than $38^{\circ}C$ and systemic symptoms; cough, or sore throat. ILI was the highest at the 20-49 age $group(23\%)$ and the rate of virus isolation was the highest at the 7-19 age $group(50\%)$. Among 124 influenza viruses, isolates 83 were identified as A/H3N2 type and others were subtyped as influenza B viruses in 2003-2004 season. Influenza viruses were collected $39.1\%$ at Nowon-Gu, $13.5\%$ Gangnam-Gu and Seocho-Gu etc. and the isolate rate of virus had the area difference; Yongsan-Gu $66.7\%$, Gangnam-gu $50.0\%$, Nowon-Gu $39.9\%$, Kangbuk-Gu $36.8\%$, Seocho-Gu $27.8\%$, Dongjak-Gu $21.2\%$. Out of 401 individuals, 160 was vaccinated $(40\%)$ and the vaccination rate was the highest at the 20-49 age $group(32\%)$. These findings may contribute to the recommondation of the influenza vaccine formulation and the development of influenza control measure.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.55 no.1
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• pp.25-32
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• 2019

Influenza A (H1N1) virus caused a worldwide pandemic in 2009-2010 and still remains in seasonal circulation. Continuous surveillance activities are encouraged in the post pandemic phase to watch over the trend of occurrence every year, this is better to be done by a rapid and sensitive method for its detection. This study was conducted to detect proportions of occurrence of influenza A virus (H1N1) in patients with influenza-like illness. Samples from 500 patients with influenza or influenza-like clinical presentation were tested by real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and virus tissue culture. Among the total 500 participants, 193 (38.6%) were females and 307 (61.4%) males. Seventy-one patients (14.2%) were positive for H1N1 virus infection with real-time RT-PCR while 52 (10.4%) were positive by tissue culture. Non-statistically significant relation was found between age and gender with the positivity of H1N1. Sensitivity and specificity of real-time RT-PCR was 98.08% and 95.54%, respectively, in comparison to virus isolation with accuracy 95.8%. This study showed that H1N1 virus was responsible for a good proportion of influenza during the post-pandemic period. Real-time RT-PCR provides rapidity and sensitivity for the detection of influenza A virus (H1N1) compared with virus isolation and thus it is recommended as a diagnostic tool.

• Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
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• v.34
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• pp.3.1-3.12
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• 2022

Background: Influenza illness causes several disruptions to the workforce. The absenteeism that often ensues has economic implications for employers. This study aimed to estimate the cost-benefit of influenza vaccination in a healthcare setting from the employer's perspective. Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted in a private hospital in 2018-2019 comparing voluntary vaccinated with non-vaccinated employees with influenza vaccine. The analyses were made based on self-reporting on absenteeism and presenteeism from Influenza-like illnesses (ILIs). The costs incurred, both direct and indirect costs, were included in the study. A cost-benefit analysis was performed by measuring the cost of the vaccination program. The costs of absenteeism and reduced productivity were calculated using 3 hypothesised levels of effectiveness in the following percentage of productivity of 30%, 50%, and 70%. The costs were also calculated based on four scenarios: with and without operating income and with and without replacement. The benefits of the influenza vaccination from the employer's perspective were analysed. The benefit to cost ratio was determined. Results: A total of four hundred and twenty-one respondents participated. The influenza vaccination rate was 63.0%. The rate of ILI of 38.1% was significantly lower among vaccinated. The ILI-related absenteeism reported was also significantly lower amongst vaccinated employees at 30% compared to 70% non-vaccinated. Employers could save up to USD 18.95 per vaccinated employee when only labour cost was included or 54.0% of cost savings. The cost-saving rose to USD 155.56 when the operating income per employee was also included. The benefit to cost ratio confirmed that the net cost-benefit gained from the vaccination was more than the net cost of vaccination. Conclusions: Influenza vaccination for working adults was cost-saving and cost-beneficial when translated into financial investments for the employer. A workplace vaccination demonstrates a significant cost-benefit strategy to be applied in any institutional setting.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.171-179
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• 2020

Purpose: In Korea, seasonal influenza is an important respiratory illness afflicting children every year. We aimed to investigate the childhood epidemiology in Jeju during the 2017-2018 and 2018-2019 seasons. Methods: Children aged <13 years, who were tested for influenza at the Jeju National University Hospital during the 2017-2018 and 2018-2019 influenza seasons, were included. Demographics and the influenza test results were retrospectively reviewed from their medical records. Results: This study included 5,219 cases of influenza-like illness (ILI) (2017-2018: n=2,279; 2018-2019: n=2,940). The mean age of the eligible children was 2.85±2.79 years, and the most common age among ILI patients in each season was 1 year group. There were 902 (17.3%, 902/5,219) confirmed influenza cases during the 2 seasons. The rate of influenza confirmed by rapid influenza diagnostic test or polymerase chain reaction among ILI patients in the 2017-2018 and 2018-2019 seasons was 10.4% (236/2,279) and 10.3% (303/2,940) for influenza A, and 9.1% (208/2,279) and 5.3% (155/2,940) for influenza B, respectively. The mean age of influenza-confirmed cases was 4.09 years and 5.05 years in the 2017-2018 and 2018-2019 seasons, respectively (P<0.05). Weekly distribution of influenza was similar to that of ILI in the clinical sentinel surveillance system in both seasons. Conclusion: The difference in the influenza epidemic trend and age-group distribution between the 2017-2018 and 2018-2019 seasons was distinct in Jeju. Steady epidemiological studies on influenza in Jeju are needed for comparison with other regions of Korea.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.31-36
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• 2017

Purpose: This study aimed to examine the accuracy of rapid influenza diagnostic tests (RIDT) in children with an influenza-like illness and to evaluate factors associated with greater accuracy. Methods: Pediatric patients, who visited Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital with an influenza-like illness between June 2011 and May 2016, were enrolled in this study. We tested 798 samples using a real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for respiratory viruses and compared the results with rapid influenza tests. Results: In comparison with the results of the multiplex PCR, the positive agreement rates of RIDT for influenza A and B virus were 75.7% and 60.0%, respectively. The performance of RIDT varied according to days after fever onset. The positive agreement rates of RIDT for influenza A and B tests, performed within 4 days of fever onset, were 77.6% and 73.2%, but the rates for tests performed more than 5 days after fever onset were 66.7% and 21.4%, respectively. Conclusions: The RIDT is a quick and simple aid to diagnosis, but is less sensitive than the labeled sensitivity. Moreover, test performance varied according to days after fever onset. Test specimens for RIDT should be collected as soon as possible after the onset of symptoms (less than 4 days).

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.16 no.9
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• pp.147-157
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• 2018

Since Google launched a prediction service for influenza-like illness(ILI), studies on ILI prediction based on web search data have proliferated worldwide. In this regard, this study aims to build short-term predictive models for ILI in Korea using ILI and web search data and measure the performance of the said models. In these proposed ILI predictive models specific to Korea, ILI surveillance data of Korea CDC and Korean web search data of Google and Naver were used along with the ARIMA model. Model 1 used only ILI data. Models 2 and 3 added Google and Naver search data to the data of Model 1, respectively. Model 4 included a common query used in Models 2 and 3 in addition to the data used in Model 1. In the training period, the goodness of fit of all predictive models was higher than 95% ($R^2$). In predictive periods 1 and 2, Model 1 yielded the best predictions (99.98% and 96.94%, respectively). Models 3(a), 4(b), and 4(c) achieved stable predictability higher than 90% in all predictive periods, but their performances were not better than that of Model 1. The proposed models that yielded accurate and stable predictions can be applied to early warning systems for the influenza pandemic in Korea, with supplementary studies on improving their performance.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.84 no.3
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• pp.226-236
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• 2021

Background: Although the Quidel Sofia rapid influenza fluorescent immunoassay (FIA) is widely used to identify influenza A and B, the diagnostic accuracy of this test remains unclear. Thus, the objective of this study was to determine the diagnostic performance of this test compared to reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. Methods: A systematic literature search was performed using MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Central Register. Pooled sensitivity, specificity, diagnostic odds ratio (DOR), and a hierarchical summary receiver-operating characteristic curve (HSROC) of this test for identifying influenza A and B were determined using meta-analysis. A sensitivity subgroup analysis was performed to identify potential sources of heterogeneity within selected studies. Results: We identified 17 studies involving 8,334 patients. Pooled sensitivity, specificity, and DOR of the Quidel Sofia rapid influenza FIA for identifying influenza A were 0.78 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.71-0.83), 0.99 (95% CI, 0.98-0.99), and 251.26 (95% CI, 139.39-452.89), respectively. Pooled sensitivity, specificity, and DOR of this test for identifying influenza B were 0.72 (95% CI, 0.60-0.82), 0.98 (95% CI, 0.96-0.99), and 140.20 (95% CI, 55.92-351.54), respectively. The area under the HSROC for this test for identifying influenza A was similar to that for identifying influenza B. Age was considered a probable source of heterogeneity. Conclusion: Pooled sensitivities of the Quidel Sofia rapid influenza FIA for identifying influenza A and B did not quite meet the target level (≥80%). Thus, caution is needed when interpreting data of this study due to substantial betweenstudy heterogeneity.