Influenza outbreaks during World Youth Day 2008 mass gathering.
Influenza outbreaks during mass gatherings have been rarely described, and detailed virologic assessment is lacking. An influenza outbreak occurred during World Youth Day in Sydney, Australia, July 2008 (WYD2008). We assessed epidemiologic data and respiratory samples collected from attendees who sought treatment for influenza-like illness at emergency clinics in Sydney during this outbreak. Isolated influenza viruses were compared with seasonal influenza viruses from the 2008 influenza season. From 100 infected attendees, numerous strains were identified: oseltamivir-resistant influenza A (H1N1) viruses, oseltamivir-sensitive influenza A (H1N1) viruses, influenza A (H3N2) viruses, and strains from both influenza B lineages (B/Florida/4/2006-like and B/Malaysia/2506/2004-like). Novel viruses were introduced, and pre-WYD2008 seasonal viruses were amplified. Viruses isolated at mass gatherings can have substantial, complex, and unpredictable effects on community influenza activity. Greater flexibility by public health authorities and hospitals is required to appropriately manage and contain these outbreaks.
Blyth
Christopher C
CC
Westmead Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. ccblyth@gmail.com
Foo
Hong
H
van Hal
Sebastiaan J
SJ
Hurt
Aeron C
AC
Barr
Ian G
IG
McPhie
Kenneth
K
Armstrong
Paul K
PK
Rawlinson
William D
WD
Sheppeard
Vicky
V
Conaty
Stephen
S
Staff
Michael
M
Dwyer
Dominic E
DE
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005260:Female; D019267:Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus / Q000235:genetics; D006693:Holidays; D006801:Humans; D053118:Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D053122:Influenza A Virus, H3N2 Subtype / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D009981:Influenza B virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009439:Neuraminidase / Q000235:genetics; D009975:Orthomyxoviridae / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D010802:Phylogeny; D011634:Public Health; D012137:Respiratory System / Q000821:virology; D055815:Young Adult
D019267:Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus; D009439:Neuraminidase
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