An outbreak investigation of influenza A/H1N1 in college students

Objective To analyze the epidemiological characteristics of influenza A/H1N1 outbreak in college students,so as to provide reference data for the strategy of the disease prevention and control.Methods Field investigation and medical record reviewing methods were used to analyze the outbreak of influenza A/H1N1 in a university.Descriptive epidemiology method was applied for exploring the characteristics of viral infection,distribution,the clinical symptoms of patients and effective intervention measures.Results 32 confirmed cases with influenza A/H1N1 were reported in the outbreak.The ratio of male to female patients was 3∶1.26(81.3%) cases occurred on October 16-19,2009 and 20(62.5%) patients were from a same institute.The clinical symptoms were moderate and the average course of disease was 5.8 days for 31 patients.There was 1 severe case,which took 49 days for recovery.The first influenza A/H1N1 case of outbreak was an imported case(infected from other city) and all the others were secondary infection.Conclusion It was important and effective to control and prevent further spreading of influenza A/H1N1 in schools by establishing response agency for disease monitoring and information communication,strengthening the self-quarantine of patients and the observation of close contact persons,coordinating the knowledge of disease prevention and control as well as vaccination affairs.