212591 Effectiveness of School Closure in Novel Influenza A(H1N1) Outbreak in Japan

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Yuichiro Yahata, MPH, PhD , Infectiouse Disease Serveillance Center, National Institute of Infectious Disease, Shinjyuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan
Tomimasa Sunagawa, MD, PhD , Infectiouse Disease Serveillance Center, National Institute of Infectious Disease, Shinjyuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan
Tomoe Shimada, MD, MPH , Infectiouse Disease Serveillance Center, National Institute of Infectious Disease, Shinjyuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan
Kumi Ueno-Yamamoto, MD , Infectiouse Disease Serveillance Center, National Institute of Infectious Disease, Shinjyuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan
Masaru Tsutsui, MD , Funabashi City Health Center, Funabashi, Chiba, Japan
Yoshiro Watanabe, MD , Funabashi City Health Center, Funabashi, Chiba, Japan
Kiyosu Taniguchi, MD, PhD , Infectiouse Disease Serveillance Center, National Institute of Infectious Disease, Shinjyuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan
Nobuhiko Okabe, MD, PhD , Infectiouse Disease Serveillance Center, National Institute of Infectious Disease, Shinjyuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan
  
Background

On 9 May 2009, Japan has found the first case for the novel influenza A(H1N1), A(H1N1)pdm, at the quarantine station in Narita Airport. Around one week later, Kansai area has reported some outbreaks for the A(H1N1)pdm in the school. However, mitigation for A(H1N1)pdm in the school haven't reported so much. Therefore, we reported school closure and its effectiveness.

Materials and Method

We used the data was investigated for individuals by the Funabashi City Public Health Center and N junior high school. Teachers have investigated fever and other health conditions toward the students, during the closed it.

Results

Number of the confirmed cases were 34 (attack rate, AR: 5.0%) among students. The highest AR of the grade was 3rd grade (10.7%). Main symptoms were fever (37.0ºC or more, 100%) and cough (82.5%). Softball club was the highest AR (50.0%), and the next highest one was tennis club (20.0%). The highest number of the case among the class was fourth class of third year (AR: 34.2%). The highest relative risk (RR) for club was softball (RR=6.53, 95%CI: 2.21-19.25) and next one was table tennis (RR=2.43, 95%CI: 0.94-6.23). Number of the feverish students was decreased two days after school closed.

Discussions

Several study reported school closure was one of the effective mitigation for influenza, but they haven't mentioned the effectiveness for the quantity. School closure for this school showed mitigation for the A(H1N1)pdm. Therefore, we suggested that the school closure was one of the effective controls major for A(H1N1)pdm.

Learning Objectives:
Evaluate

Keywords: Epidemiology, Infectious Diseases

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have nothing to get the commercial support concerning all studies.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

See more of: Latebreaking epidemiology posters -- H1N1 and water issues
See more of: Epidemiology