Mass oseltamivir prophylaxis halts pandemic influenza A H1N1 2009 outbreak in a secondary school in Ashanti Region, Ghana.
Year: 2012
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: OBJECTIVES: To describe the epidemiology and public health response to H1N1 outbreak and make recommendations to prevent future outbreaks. DESIGN: A descriptive study of an outbreak investigation. SETTING: A secondary school in Asante Akim South District. METHODS: Influenza A H1N1 2009 infection was laboratory-confirmed by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) in clinically ill students after collecting throat swabs. Sixty students of the school had presented with fever, cough, headache and sore throat. The students' dormitories were also inspected to assess degree of ventilation and general level of cleanliness in the rooms. RESULTS: The outbreak followed a propagated transmission lasting 10 days with two peaks on 22(nd) and 24(th) June, 2010.The clinical attack rate was 9.9%. Secondary attack rates at the highly congested female dormitory were 28%, 31.3% and 17.8% for Rooms 1, 2 and 3 respectively. The generation time for the Influenza H1N1 a 2009 outbreak in the school was about two days. CONCLUSION: A mild form of Influenza A H1N1 2009 was confirmed in a secondary school affecting mainly those in the boarding house. Cases identified were treated, but post-exposure prophylaxis with oseltamivir administered to the remaining school population actually halted the outbreak, after social distancing interventions had not succeeded.
Source: Europe PMC (PubMed Central)
Authors: F Asiedu-Bekoe, D A Adu, A Offei
Institution: Ghana Health Service
Language: English
Subfield: Epidemiology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2110961424