Epidemiology and Infection
- Epidemiology and Infection / Volume 139 / Issue 01 / January 2011, pp 45-51
- Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2010 This is a work of the U.S. Government and is not subject to copyright protection in the United States.
- DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S095026881000141X (About DOI), Published online: 21 June 2010
Original Papers
Pandemic influenza
Low secondary transmission of 2009 pandemic influenza A (H1N1) in households following an outbreak at a summer camp: relationship to timing of exposure
T. J. DOYLEa1a3 c1 and R. S. HOPKINSa2
on behalf of the Transmission Investigation Team
†
a1 Florida Department of Health, Miami, Florida, USA
a2 Florida Department of Health, Tallahassee, Florida, USA
a3 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Miami, FL, USA
SUMMARY
Following an outbreak of 2009 pandemic influenza A (H1N1) at a residential summer camp for boys aged 10–16 years, we assessed secondary household transmission of the novel virus after their return home. Of 212 study participants who attended camp, 49 had confirmed or probable influenza for a primary attack rate of 23%. Of 87 exposed household contacts who did not attend camp, only three instances of probable transmission were observed, for a household secondary attack rate of 3·5%. All secondary cases occurred in households where the ill camp attendee returned home 1 day after onset of illness, with an attack rate of 14·3% in household contacts in this category. Returning home after peak infectivity to others and advanced warning prior to reintegration of sick individuals into the household probably contributed to the overall low secondary attack rate observed.
(Accepted May 26 2010)
(Online publication June 21 2010)
Key Words:
Correspondence:
c1 Author for correspondence: Mr T. J. Doyle, 4052 Bald Cypress Way, Bin A-12, Tallahassee, FL 32399-1720, USA. (Email: tdoyle@cdc.gov)
Footnotes
† The Transmission Investigation Team is given in the Appendix.
