Concurrent Summer Influenza and Pertussis Outbreaks in a Nursing Home in Sydney, Australia

2004 ◽  
Vol 25 (11) ◽  
pp. 962-966 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark J. Ferson ◽  
Keira Morgan ◽  
Peter W. Robertson ◽  
Alan W. Hampson ◽  
Ian Carter ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Nursing Home ◽  
Influenza A ◽  
Respiratory Illness ◽  
Case Definition ◽  
Acute Respiratory Illness ◽  
Public Health Response ◽  
Pertussis Infection ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
Sydney Australia

AbstractObjective:To report on the investigation of a summer outbreak of acute respiratory illness among residents of a Sydney nursing home.Design:An epidemiologic and microbiological investigation of the resident cohort at the time of the outbreak and medical record review 5 months later.Setting:A nursing home located in Sydney, Australia, during February to July 1999.Patients:The cohort of residents present in the nursing home at the time of the outbreak.Interventions:Public health interventions included recommendations regarding hygiene, cohorting of residents and staff, closure to further admissions, and prompt reporting of illness; and virologic and serologic studies of residents.Results:Of the 69 residents (mean age, 85.1 years), 35 fulfilled the case definition of acute respiratory illness. Influenza A infection was confirmed in 19 residents, and phylogenetic analysis of the resulting isolate, designated H3N2 A/Sydney/203/99, showed that it differed from strains isolated in eastern Australia during the same period. Serologic evidence ofBordetellainfection was also found in 10 residents; however, stratified epidemiologic analysis pointed to influenza A as the cause of illness.Conclusions:The investigation revealed an unusual summer outbreak of influenza A concurrent with subclinical pertussis infection. Surveillance of acute respiratory illness in nursing homes throughout the year, rather than solely during epidemic periods, in combination with appropriate public health laboratory support, would allow initiation of a timely public health response to outbreaks of acute respiratory illness in this setting.

scholarly journals Value of influenza vaccine during an outbreak of influenza A in a nursing home, Pyrénées Atlantiques, France, November-December 1995

1996 ◽  
Vol 1 (5) ◽  
pp. 35-37 ◽  
Author(s):  
A Infuso ◽  
S Baron ◽  
H Fauveau ◽  
M Melon ◽  
H Fleury ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Nursing Home ◽  
Influenza Vaccine ◽  
Influenza A ◽  
Respiratory Illness ◽  
Acute Respiratory Illness ◽  
Health Officer

A public health officer of the Direction Départementale de l'Action Sanitaire et Sociale des Pyrénées Atlantiques in France was notified of an outbreak of acute respiratory illness among residents of a nursing home on 4 December, 1995. Over 50 of the 69 r

scholarly journals The Effects of Social Distancing Policies on non-SARS-CoV-2 Respiratory Pathogens

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeff Nawrocki ◽  
Katherine Olin ◽  
Martin C Holdrege ◽  
Joel Hartsell ◽  
Lindsay Meyers ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Influenza A ◽  
Detection Rate ◽  
Respiratory Illness ◽  
Respiratory Pathogens ◽  
Public Health Response ◽  
Mixed Effect ◽  
Detection Rates ◽  
Social Distancing ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background The initial focus of the US public health response to COVID-19 was the implementation of numerous social distancing policies. While COVID-19 was the impetus for imposing these policies, it is not the only respiratory disease affected by their implementation. This study aimed to assess the impact of social distancing policies on non-SARS-CoV-2 respiratory pathogens typically circulating across multiple US states. Methods Linear mixed-effect models were implemented to explore the effects of five social distancing policies on non-SARS-CoV-2 respiratory pathogens across nine states from January 1 through May 1, 2020. The observed 2020 pathogen detection rates were compared week-by-week to historical rates to determine when the detection rates were different. Results Model results indicate that several social distancing policies were associated with a reduction in total detection rate, by nearly 15%. Policies were associated with decreases in pathogen circulation of human rhinovirus/enterovirus and human metapneumovirus, as well as influenza A, which typically decrease after winter. Parainfluenza viruses failed to circulate at historical levels during the spring. Total detection rate in April 2020 was 35% less than historical average. Many of the pathogens driving this difference fell below historical detection rate ranges within two weeks of initial policy implementation. Conclusion This analysis investigated the effect of multiple social distancing policies implemented to reduce transmission of SARS-CoV-2 on non-SARS-CoV-2 respiratory pathogens. These findings suggest that social distancing policies may be used as an impactful public health tool to reduce communicable respiratory illness.

Zanamivir Use During Transmission of Amantadine-Resistant Influenza A in a Nursing Home

2000 ◽  
Vol 21 (11) ◽  
pp. 700-704 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christine Lee ◽  
Mark Loeb ◽  
Anne Phillips ◽  
Judy Nesbitt ◽  
Karen Smith ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nursing Home ◽  
Influenza A ◽  
Nursing Home Residents ◽  
Care Facility ◽  
Respiratory Illness ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Long Term Care Facility ◽  
Infection Control Measures

AbstractObjective:To describe the use of zanamivir during an influenza A outbreak.Population:Residents of a 176-bed long-term-care facility for the elderly in Newmarket, Ontario, Canada, 90% of whom received influenza vaccine in the fall of 1998.Outbreak:When respiratory illness due to influenza A was confirmed, infection control measures and amantadine prophylaxis were initiated. Despite these measures, transmission of influenza A continued.Intervention:Zanamivir inhalations, 10 mg daily for prophylaxis and 10 mg twice daily for treatment of influenza.Results:There were 13 definite and 66 probable outbreak-associated cases of influenza A. Twelve (15%) cases developed pneumonia, 7 (9%) were hospitalized, and 2 (2.6%) died. All 12 culture-positive cases yielded influenza A/Sydney/H3N2/05/97-like virus, a 1998/99 vaccine component. The three isolates obtained prior to the initiation of amantadine were amantadine-susceptible; all nine obtained after prophylaxis was instituted were amantadine-resistant. One hundred twenty-nine (92%) of 140 residents who were offered zanamivir accepted it and were able to attempt inhalations. Of these 129, 78% (100) had no difficulty in complying with inhalations. Difficulty with inhalations was associated with decreased functional and mental status. Fifteen (58%) of 26 residents fully dependent in activities of daily living had difficulty compared to 14 (14%) of 100 others (P<.001). Twenty-two (45%) of 49 residents not oriented to person, place, or time had difficulty compared to 7 (10%) of 77 others (P<001). In the 2 weeks after zanamivir prophylaxis, only 2 new cases of respiratory illness occurred, neither confirmed as influenza. No side effects were identified in 128 zanamivir-treated residents.Conclusion:A minority of nursing home residents have difficulty following instructions for zanamivir inhalations. Zanamivir was well tolerated, and its use was temporally associated with termination of an outbreak that amantadine had failed to control.

scholarly journals Assessing perceptions and priorities for health impacts of climate change within local Michigan health departments

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julie M. Carter ◽  
Patricia D. Koman ◽  
Lorraine Cameron ◽  
Aaron Ferguson ◽  
Patrick Jacuzzo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Climate Change ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Respiratory Illness ◽  
Local Health ◽  
Health Departments ◽  
Public Health Response ◽  
Local Public Health ◽  
Local Impacts ◽  
Impacts Of Climate Change

AbstractClimate change affects Michigan’s public health in several primary ways, including increased incidences of vector-borne, waterborne, heat-related, and respiratory illness. Because local health departments (LHDs) play a central role in surveillance and preventative health services, they are among the first institutions to contend with the local impacts of climate change. To assess current perceptions among Michigan public health officials, an online survey was conducted in partnership with the Michigan Association for Local Public Health (MALPH). Most of the Michigan respondents (62%, n = 34) agreed that their jurisdictions have experienced climate change in the last 20 years, and 77% agreed that climate change will impact their jurisdictions in the coming 20 years. However, only 35% (n = 34) of Michigan officials agreed that climate change is a priority in their departments. About one quarter (25%, n = 34) of Michigan LHD respondents did not know about the level of expertise of either the state and federal agencies, responsible for assisting them with information and programs related to climate change and health. Uncertainty regarding the resources available to them may hinder LHDs from developing necessary preparedness, so meeting this need could bolster the public health response to climate change.

scholarly journals Public Health Response to an Avian Influenza A(H7N8) Virus Outbreak in Commercial Turkey Flocks — Indiana, 2016

2018 ◽  
Vol 67 (48) ◽  
pp. 1339-1341 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer A. Brown ◽  
Reema Patel ◽  
Lynn Maitlen ◽  
Donna Oeding ◽  
Karen Gordon ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Avian Influenza ◽  
Influenza A ◽  
Public Health Response ◽  
Health Response ◽  
Commercial Turkey

scholarly journals Active surveillance of acute paediatric hospitalisations demonstrates the impact of vaccination programmes and informs vaccine policy in Canada and Australia

2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (25) ◽  
Author(s):  
Karina A Top ◽  
Kristine Macartney ◽  
Julie A Bettinger ◽  
Ben Tan ◽  
Christopher C Blyth ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Infectious Diseases ◽  
Active Surveillance ◽  
Influenza A ◽  
Monitoring Program ◽  
Emerging Infectious Diseases ◽  
Emerging Infections ◽  
Public Health Response ◽  
Influenza A H1n1 ◽  
The Impact

Sentinel surveillance of acute hospitalisations in response to infectious disease emergencies such as the 2009 influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 pandemic is well described, but recognition of its potential to supplement routine public health surveillance and provide scalability for emergency responses has been limited. We summarise the achievements of two national paediatric hospital surveillance networks relevant to vaccine programmes and emerging infectious diseases in Canada (Canadian Immunization Monitoring Program Active; IMPACT from 1991) and Australia (Paediatric Active Enhanced Disease Surveillance; PAEDS from 2007) and discuss opportunities and challenges in applying their model to other contexts. Both networks were established to enhance capacity to measure vaccine preventable disease burden, vaccine programme impact, and safety, with their scope occasionally being increased with emerging infectious diseases’ surveillance. Their active surveillance has increased data accuracy and utility for syndromic conditions (e.g. encephalitis), pathogen-specific diseases (e.g. pertussis, rotavirus, influenza), and adverse events following immunisation (e.g. febrile seizure), enabled correlation of biological specimens with clinical context and supported responses to emerging infections (e.g. pandemic influenza, parechovirus, COVID-19). The demonstrated long-term value of continuous, rather than incident-related, operation of these networks in strengthening routine surveillance, bridging research gaps, and providing scalable public health response, supports their applicability to other countries.

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