Mitigation of Influenza B Epidemic with School Closures, Hong Kong, 2018.

Sheikh Taslim Ali,Benjamin J Cowling,Vicky J Fang,Eric H.Y Lau,Gabriel M Leung

doi:10.3201/eid2411.180612

Abstract

In winter 2018, schools in Hong Kong were closed 1 week before the scheduled Chinese New Year holiday to mitigate an influenza B virus epidemic. The intervention occurred after the epidemic peak and reduced overall incidence by ≈4.2%. School-based vaccination programs should be implemented to more effectively reduce influenza illnesses.

Highlights

In winter 2018, schools in Hong Kong were closed 1 week before the scheduled Chinese New Year holiday to mitigate an influenza B virus epidemic
We have previously shown that this influenzalike illness (ILI)+ proxy provides an estimate that correlates linearly with the incidence of hospitalizations for influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 in Hong Kong [6]; some have argued that this metric is a better linear correlate of the incidence of influenza illness than ILI rates alone or laboratory detection rates alone [9]
A) Incidence of influenza B virus measured by using the ILI+ proxy for influenza B, which is calculated by multiplying the weekly rate of ILI per 1,000 consultations by the weekly proportion of respiratory specimens submitted to the Public Health Laboratory Services (Hong Kong) that tested positive for influenza B virus

Summary

Introduction

In winter 2018, schools in Hong Kong were closed 1 week before the scheduled Chinese New Year holiday to mitigate an influenza B virus epidemic. In Hong Kong, influenza epidemics occur during winter every year and sometimes during other seasons [1]. One of the interventions that has been used by Hong Kong health authorities to control influenza epidemics is school closures; this intervention was previously applied in 2008 [2] and 2009 [3].

Results

Conclusion