Public health implications of influenza B outbreaks in closed settings in the United Kingdom in the 2007/08 influenza season

P Mook; J Ellis; J M Watson; CI Thompson; M Zambon; J McMenamin; B Smyth; DRh Thomas; R G Pebody

doi:10.2807/ese.13.38.18986-en

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Public health implications of influenza B outbreaks in closed settings in the United Kingdom in the 2007/08 influenza season
P Mook¹ , J Ellis¹ , J M Watson¹ , CI Thompson¹ , M Zambon¹ , J McMenamin² , B Smyth³ , DRh Thomas⁴ , R G Pebody¹
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Affiliations: ¹ Health Protection Agency Centre for Infections, London, England ² Health Protection Scotland, Glasgow, Scotland ³ Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre, Belfast, Northern Ireland ⁴ National Public Health Service for Wales, Cardiff, Wales

Correspondence:
R Pebody
richard.pebody hpa.org.uk
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Citation style for this article: Mook P, Ellis J, Watson J M, Thompson CI, Zambon M, McMenamin J, Smyth B, Thomas DRh, Pebody R G. Public health implications of influenza B outbreaks in closed settings in the United Kingdom in the 2007/08 influenza season. Euro Surveill. 2008;13(38):pii=18986. https://doi.org/10.2807/ese.13.38.18986-en Received: 12 Sept 2008

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Abstract

Several influenza B outbreaks occurred in closed settings late in the 2007/08 influenza season (October to mid-May) in the United Kingdom (UK), with implications for public health management. Influenza B viruses usually circulate late in the season and cause a milder disease than influenza A viruses [1]. Epidemics of influenza B usually occur every two to three years with the burden of disease falling predominantly on school-aged children [2].