Abstract
INTRODUCTION: In Malaysia, seasonal flu or influenza infections are common. Influenza infection is typically seen all year, with no discernible seasonal trends. Although influenza A is more commonly reported than influenza B, year-to-year variations can be significant.
OBJECTIVE: To identify the epidemiological characteristics of the outbreak, its risk factors, and possible prevention and control measures of Influenza outbreak of a boarding school.
METHODOLOGY: A cross-sectional study was carried out using active case detection to identify exposed respondents and potentially infected individuals. A descriptive analysis was performed to identify characteristics of infected people and the transmission trends. An investigation of the outbreak area and laboratory samples from infected people were also conducted. RESULTS: A total of 47 students out of 282 were infected, with 9 cases detected passively and 38 cases detected actively. Of the total, 35 cases (74.5%) were boys and 12 (25.5%) were girls, with the majority being form 1 student. Cough (59.0 %), runny nose (55.3%), sore throat (31.9%), headache (25.5%), and fever were the most common symptoms (25.5%). Dorm 23 (boys' room) had the highest attack rate of 43.2% (n = 36). Two of the five samples tested positive for Influenza A but negative for COVID-19 and RSV.
DISCUSSION: The health clinic notified health district office (PKD) after nine students from the same school sought treatment there. As influenza like illness (ILI) and upper respiratory trat infection (URTI) surveillance was an ongoing system, the health clinic was able to identify potential outbreaks and alert PKD for further assessment and evaluation. For PKD Bachok, a session of ILI surveillance data collection audit had been done in December 2021 to ensure that the surveillance process happened although the healthcare system was overwhelmed with COVID-19 on that time, and this really helped early detection of this outbreak. Compact dorm rooms with poor ventilation, limited shared bathroom space, and noncompliance with new standard operation procedures (SOP) were risk factors for the outbreak. It was found that adherence to SOPs is getting looser in the community especially in institution during this endemic transition phase. Ill patients were isolated and given appropriate care. Fortunately, all cases were treated as outpatients. Students and teachers at the school were taught about health promotion and SOP. CONCLUSION: Influenza was a disease that is easily transmitted, especially in confined or crowded areas. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, other respiratory infections were expected to be controlled because the community had been educated on the new norm. Inadequate adherence will result in an outbreak.
Links
- https://apcph.cphm.my/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/APCPH2022-P-3.pdf
- https://apcph.cphm.my/wp-content/uploads/wpforms/1176-1e04940bb5d885bf8711ed1909[...]
BibTeX (Download)
@proceedings{APCPH2022-P-3,
title = {A Case Report on Influenza Outbreak of a Boarding School in Bachok, Kelantan},
author = {Norain Ahmad and Norhasnizal Mohamad Yusof and Syakinah Mohamed and Nor Azlina Sunita Johari and Mohd Hasrol Nizan Mat Yaakub and Razan Ab. Samat},
url = {https://apcph.cphm.my/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/APCPH2022-P-3.pdf
https://apcph.cphm.my/wp-content/uploads/wpforms/1176-1e04940bb5d885bf8711ed19095a89ed/Poster-Influenza-Bachok-ACPHC-3bfe7a95037b1ebaffa29faf5ea9a15e.pdf},
year = {2022},
date = {2022-08-02},
urldate = {2022-08-02},
issue = {7},
abstract = {INTRODUCTION: In Malaysia, seasonal flu or influenza infections are common. Influenza infection is typically seen all year, with no discernible seasonal trends. Although influenza A is more commonly reported than influenza B, year-to-year variations can be significant.
OBJECTIVE: To identify the epidemiological characteristics of the outbreak, its risk factors, and possible prevention and control measures of Influenza outbreak of a boarding school.
METHODOLOGY: A cross-sectional study was carried out using active case detection to identify exposed respondents and potentially infected individuals. A descriptive analysis was performed to identify characteristics of infected people and the transmission trends. An investigation of the outbreak area and laboratory samples from infected people were also conducted. RESULTS: A total of 47 students out of 282 were infected, with 9 cases detected passively and 38 cases detected actively. Of the total, 35 cases (74.5%) were boys and 12 (25.5%) were girls, with the majority being form 1 student. Cough (59.0 %), runny nose (55.3%), sore throat (31.9%), headache (25.5%), and fever were the most common symptoms (25.5%). Dorm 23 (boys' room) had the highest attack rate of 43.2% (n = 36). Two of the five samples tested positive for Influenza A but negative for COVID-19 and RSV.
DISCUSSION: The health clinic notified health district office (PKD) after nine students from the same school sought treatment there. As influenza like illness (ILI) and upper respiratory trat infection (URTI) surveillance was an ongoing system, the health clinic was able to identify potential outbreaks and alert PKD for further assessment and evaluation. For PKD Bachok, a session of ILI surveillance data collection audit had been done in December 2021 to ensure that the surveillance process happened although the healthcare system was overwhelmed with COVID-19 on that time, and this really helped early detection of this outbreak. Compact dorm rooms with poor ventilation, limited shared bathroom space, and noncompliance with new standard operation procedures (SOP) were risk factors for the outbreak. It was found that adherence to SOPs is getting looser in the community especially in institution during this endemic transition phase. Ill patients were isolated and given appropriate care. Fortunately, all cases were treated as outpatients. Students and teachers at the school were taught about health promotion and SOP. CONCLUSION: Influenza was a disease that is easily transmitted, especially in confined or crowded areas. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, other respiratory infections were expected to be controlled because the community had been educated on the new norm. Inadequate adherence will result in an outbreak.},
howpublished = {published online at https://apcph.cphm.my},
note = {Type: POSTER PRESENTATION; Organisation: Bachok District Health Office, Bachok, Kelantan},
keywords = {influenza, outbreak, School, surveillance},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {proceedings}
}