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Summer outbreak of respiratory disease in an Australian prison due to an influenza A/Fujian/411/2002(H3N2)-like virus

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 November 2004

L. C. YOUNG ,
D. E. DWYER ,
M. HARRIS ,
Z. GUSE ,
V. NOEL  and
M. H. LEVY
L. C. YOUNG
Affiliation:
Justice Health, NSW Health, Matraville, NSW, Australia
D. E. DWYER
Affiliation:
Centre for Infectious Diseases and Microbiology Laboratory Services, Institute of Clinical Pathology and Medical Research, Westmead Hospital, Westmead, NSW, Australia
M. HARRIS
Affiliation:
Justice Health, NSW Health, Matraville, NSW, Australia
Z. GUSE
Affiliation:
Centre for Infectious Diseases and Microbiology Laboratory Services, Institute of Clinical Pathology and Medical Research, Westmead Hospital, Westmead, NSW, Australia
V. NOEL
Affiliation:
Justice Health, NSW Health, Matraville, NSW, Australia
M. H. LEVY
Affiliation:
Centre for Health Research in Criminal Justice, Matraville, NSW, Australia
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Abstract

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An outbreak of influenza A occurred in a prison system in New South Wales, Australia in January 2003 during the southern hemisphere summer. This report documents only the third confirmed outbreak of influenza in a prison environment. The outbreak investigation included case ascertainment, state-wide surveillance, a case-control study and interventions to limit the outbreak such as infection control, quarantine, cohorting of cases, and the use of antiviral medication for prophylaxis. A total of 37 clinical cases were identified. Influenza A virus was detected in 11 of the 22 respiratory tract specimens collected. The virus was typed as an influenza A/Fujian/411/2002 (H3N2)-like virus. This strain subsequently became the predominant virus strain during the northern hemisphere winter and the following 2003 Australian southern hemisphere winter influenza season.

Type
Research Article
Information
Epidemiology & Infection , Volume 133 , Issue 1 , February 2005 , pp. 107 - 112
Copyright
2004 Cambridge University Press