Influenza B virus outbreak at a religious residential school for boys in Northern Bangladesh, 2011

Farhana Haque, Katharine Sturm-Ramirez, Nusrat Homaira, Emily Suzane Gurley, Md Jahangir Hossain, S. M.Murshid Hasan, Sukanta Chowdhury, Shamim Sarkar, Abdul Khaleque Md Dawlat Khan, Mustafizur Rahman, Mahmudur Rahman, Stephen P. Luby

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

3 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: National media reported a febrile illness among dormitory residents of a boys' religious school. We investigated the outbreak to identify cause. Methods: Individuals with fever (>100°F) and cough or sore throat between 1 and 13 August 2011 were influenza-like-illness (ILI) case-patients. We collected histories and specimens from hospitalized case-patients and visited campus to explore environmental context. Results: All 28 case-patients were dormitory residents including 27 hospitalizations. Accommodation space per resident was <0.8 square metres. Nasal and oropharyngeal swabs from 22 case-patients were positive for influenza B virus using real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR). Conclusions: Overcrowding likely facilitated transmission leading to this dormitory outbreak.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)165-169
Number of pages5
JournalInfluenza and other Respiratory Viruses
Volume11
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 1 2017
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Bangladesh
  • epidemic
  • influenza B virus
  • school dormitory

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Epidemiology
  • Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine
  • Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
  • Infectious Diseases

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