An outbreak of influenza A(H1N1)v in a boarding school in South East England, May-June 2009

A Smith; S Coles; S Johnson; L Saldana; C Ihekweazu; É O’Moore

doi:10.2807/ese.14.27.19263-en

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An outbreak of influenza A(H1N1)v in a boarding school in South East England, May-June 2009
A Smith¹ , S Coles² , S Johnson² , L Saldana¹ , C Ihekweazu² , É O’Moore¹
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Affiliations: ¹ Thames Valley Health Protection Unit, Health Protection Agency, Oxford, United Kingdom ² South East Regional Epidemiological Unit, Health Protection Agency, London, United Kingdom

Correspondence:
C Ihekweazu
Chikwe.Ihekweazu HPA.org.uk
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Citation style for this article: Smith A, Coles S, Johnson S, Saldana L, Ihekweazu C, O’Moore É. An outbreak of influenza A(H1N1)v in a boarding school in South East England, May-June 2009. Euro Surveill. 2009;14(27):pii=19263. https://doi.org/10.2807/ese.14.27.19263-en Received: 29 Jun 2009

Abstract

An outbreak of influenza A(H1N1)v was confirmed in May and June 2009 in a boarding school in South East England involving 102 symptomatic cases with influenza-like illness. Influenza A(H1N1)v infection was laboratory-confirmed by PCR in 62 pupils and one member of staff. Control measures were implemented as soon as a case was confirmed and included school closure, active case finding and treatment as well as post-exposure prophylaxis offered to the entire school population. Had the outbreak had been detected earlier, the school closed earlier and prophylaxis commenced after the initial cases were detected, we may have seen lower levels of transmission.