Effectiveness of personal protective equipment and oseltamivir prophylaxis during avian influenza A (H7N7) epidemic, the Netherlands, 2003.
We analyzed the effectiveness of personal protective equipment and oseltamivir use during the 2003 avian influenza A (H7N7) epidemic in the Netherlands by linking databases containing information about farm visits, human infections, and use of oseltamivir and personal protective equipment. Using a stringent case definition, based on self-reported conjunctivitis combined with a positive hemagglutination-inhibition assay, we found that prophylactic treatment with oseltamivir significantly reduced the risk for infection per farm visit from 0.145 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.078-0.233) to 0.031 (95% CI 0.008-0.073). The protective effect was ≈79% (95% CI 40%-97%). These results are comparable with the reported effect of prophylactic treatment with oseltamivir on human seasonal influenza. No significant protective effect was found for use of respirators or safety glasses, possibly because of limitations of the data.
te Beest
Dennis E
DE
Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands. dennis.te.beest@rivm.nl
van Boven
Michiel
M
Bos
Marian E H
ME
Stegeman
Arjan
A
Koopmans
Marion P G
MP
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000822:Animal Husbandry; D000818:Animals; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018890:Chemoprevention; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005135:Eye Protective Devices / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053126:Influenza A Virus, H7N7 Subtype / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D005585:Influenza in Birds / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission* / Q000821:virology; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D053139:Oseltamivir / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011200:Poultry / Q000821:virology; D011201:Poultry Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission / Q000821:virology; D011482:Protective Devices / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012134:Respiratory Protective Devices / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D053139:Oseltamivir