Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2011 Jan;5(1):47-51.
doi: 10.1111/j.1750-2659.2010.00169.x.

Limited novel influenza A (H1N1) 09 infection in travelling high-school tour group

Janine Mardani  1 , Lester Calder, Karen Laurie, Ian Barr, Anne Kelso, Nicholas Jones
Affiliations

Limited novel influenza A (H1N1) 09 infection in travelling high-school tour group

Janine Mardani et al. Influenza Other Respir Viruses. 2011 Jan.

Abstract

Background: A single case of novel influenza A (H1N1) 09 infection was identified by PCR among a New Zealand high-school group that toured California in April 2009. Close monitoring of the tour group and their New Zealand contacts identified 11 other tour members with respiratory symptoms who were investigated. In all nine instances where nasopharyngeal swabs were indicated, tests were negative for novel influenza A (H1N1) 09 by PCR.

Objective: To determine whether serology could identify any cases of novel influenza A (H1N1) 09 that had not been detected by PCR.

Methods: Acute and convalescent serological testing for antibodies against pandemic (H1N1) 2009 and seasonal A (H1N1) influenza viruses using haemagglutination inhibition assays and microneutralisation assays.

Results: Serological analysis of symptomatic tour members identified a further possible case of novel influenza A (H1N1) 09 infection. The possible case had not been tested by PCR because he or she had already received prophylaxis with oseltamivir.

Conclusions: These findings suggest infection among tour group members was limited despite prolonged periods of close contact during travel. Furthermore, multiple public health interventions are likely to have effectively prevented an outbreak following the tour group's return.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. World Health Organization . Disease Outbreak News: Influenza‐like illness in the United States and Mexico, 24 April 2009. Geneva: World Health Organization, 2009.
    1. Ministry of Health . National Laboratory Guidelines for Pandemic Influenza: Collection and Handling of Human Specimens for Laboratory Diagnosis of Influenza with Pandemic Potential. Wellington: Ministry of Health, 2006.
    1. Kendal A, Pereira M, Skehel J, eds. Concepts and Procedures for Laboratory‐Based Influenza Surveillance. Atlanta, GA: US Department of Health and Human Services, CDC, 1982.
    1. Tannock G, Paul J, Herd R et al. Improved colorimetric assay for detecting influenza B virus neutralizing antibody responses to vaccination and infection. J Clin Microbiol 1989; 27(3):524–528. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Miller E, Hoschler K, Hardelid P, Stanford E, Andrews N, Zambon M. Incidence of 2009 pandemic influenza A H1N1 infection in England: a cross‐sectional serological study. Lancet 2010; 375(9720):1100–1108. - PubMed

Substances