Abstract
To determine effects of school breaks on influenza virus transmission in the Southern Hemisphere, we analyzed 2004–2010 influenza-like–illness surveillance data from Chile. Winter breaks were significantly associated with a two-thirds temporary incidence reduction among schoolchildren, which supports use of school closure to temporarily reduce illness, especially among schoolchildren, in the Southern Hemisphere.
Highlights
Illness and Winter School Breaks, Chile, Gerardo Chowell, Sherry Towers, Cécile Viboud, Rodrigo Fuentes, and Viviana Sotomayor
A single study is available from the Southern Hemisphere and indicates a 14% reduction in influenzalike illness (ILI) incidence during winter break in Argentina during 2005–2008; the largest decrease was observed among children 5–14 years of age [6]
To estimate changes in the age distribution of ILI patients, on the basis of methods used in previous work [8,14], we compared the weekly ratios of ILI incidence rates for schoolchildren and adults during the 2-week period before, during, and after the winter break by using a 1-sided Z test
Summary
Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.gsu.edu/iph_facpub Part of the Public Health Commons. The decline in ratios was primarily caused by a decrease in ILI rates among schoolchildren; the average (+ standard error of the estimate) reduction in ILI incidence among schoolchildren (5–19 years of age) in the 2 weeks during the winter break compared with the 2 weeks before was 67.2% + 2.1% (p
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
