Influenza outbreak preparedness: lessons from outbreaks in residential care facilities in 2014
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.33321/cdi.2015.39.19Keywords:
influenza A virus, H3N2 subtype, residential care facility, vaccine effectiveness, antigenic drift, outbreak preparednessAbstract
This report describes 6 influenza outbreaks in residential care facilities during the 2014 influenza season in the Sydney Local Health District. Vaccination rates were high among residents (95%) and low among staff (39%). The majority of residents with laboratory confirmed influenza (67%) did not meet the influenza-like illness case definition.Positive influenza specimens were subtyped as H3N2 (40%), H1N1 (5%) or not subtyped (55%). We illustrate the implications of low vaccine effectiveness and antigenic drift, and provide recommendations for the effective management of future influenza outbreaks. Commun Dis Intell 2015;39(2):E204–E207.
Downloads
References
Carrat F, Flahault A. Influenza vaccine: the challenge of antigenic drift. Vaccine 2007;25(39–40):6852–6862.
Mahmud SM, Thompson LH, Nowicki DL, Plourde PJ. Outbreaks of influenza–like illness in long–term care facilities in Winnipeg, Canada. Influenza Other Respir Viruses 2013;7(6):1055–1061.
Sayers G, Igoe D, Carr M, Cosgrave M, Duffy M, Crowley B, etal. High morbidity and mortality associated with an outbreak of influenza A(H3N2) in a psycho–geriatric facility. Epidemiol Infect 2013;141(2):357–365.
Australian Government Department of Health. Australian Influenza Surveillance Report, No. 8, 27 September to 10 October 2014. Available from: http://www1.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/ozflu-surveil-no08-14.htm
NSW Ministry of Health. NSW Health Influenza Surveillance Report, Week 43, ending 26 October 2014. Available from: http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/Influenza/Pages/reports.aspx
NSW Ministry of Health. NSW Influenza Monthly Epidemiology Report,November 2014. Available from: http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/Influenza/Pages/reports.aspx
Aquino TL, Brice GT, Hayes S, Myers CA, McDowell J, White B,et al. Influenza outbreak in a vaccinated population—USS Ardent, February 2014. MMRW Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2014;63(42):947–949.
Sullivan SG, Komadina N, Grant K, Jelley L, Papadakis G, Kelly H. Influenza vaccine effectiveness during the 2012 influenza season in Victoria, Australia: influences of waning immunity and vaccinematch. J Med Virol 2014;86(6):1017–1025.
Kelly H, Cowling BJ. Evidence and policy for influenza control. Euro Surveill 2014;19(27):2–4.
Belongia EA, Sundaram ME, McClure DL, Meece JK, Ferdinands J, VanWormer JJ. Waning vaccine protection against influenza A (H3N2) illness in children and older adults during a single season. Vaccine 2015;33(1):246–251.
Public Health Act 2010, No. 127 (New South Wales). 2010. Accessed on 20 October 2014. Available from: http://www.legislation.nsw.gov.au/maintop/view/inforce/act+127+2010+cd+0+N
Communicable Diseases Network Australia. A practical guide to assist in the prevention and management of influenza outbreaks in residential care facilities in Australia. 2009. Available from: http://www1.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/cdna-flu-guidelines.htm
Guy RJ, Di Natale R, Kelly HA, Lambert SB, Tobin S, Robinson PM, et al. Influenza outbreaks in aged–care facilities: staff vaccination and the emerging use of antiviral therapy. Med J Aust 2004;180(12):640–642.
Boni MF. Vaccination and antigenic drift in influenza. Vaccine 2008;26(Suppl 3):C8–C14.
Cai J, Wang X, Zhao B, Yao W, Wang X, Zhu Q, et al. Prevalence, genetic drift of haemagglutinin, and antiviral resistance of influenza A/H3N2 viruses circulating in Shanghai in children during 2009–2012. J Med Virol 2014;86(6):1026–1033.
Skowronski DM, Janjua NZ, De Serres G, Sabaiduc S, Eshaghi A, Dickinson JA, et al. Low 2012–13 influenza vaccine effectiveness associated with mutation in the egg–adapted H3N2 vaccine strain not antigenic drift in circulating viruses. PLoS One 2014;9(3):e92153.
World Health Organization. Recommended composition of influenza virus vaccines for use in the 2015 Southern Hemisphere influenza season.World Health Organization; Geneva: 2014.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
License
Copyright (c) 2015 Communicable Diseases Intelligence
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
