title: Transmission of 2009 pandemic influenza A (H1N1) at a Public University--Delaware, April-May 2009.
abstract: We investigated the first documented university outbreak of the 2009 pandemic influenza A(H1N1) to identify factors associated with disease transmission. An online student survey was administered to assess risk factors for influenza-like illness (ILI), defined as fever with cough or sore throat. Of 6049 survey respondents, 567 (9%) experienced ILI during 27 March to 9 May 2009. Studying with an ill contact (adjusted risk ratios [aRR], 1.29; 95% confidence intervals [CI], 1.01-1.65) and caring for an ill contact (aRR, 1.51; CI, 1.14-2.01) any time during 27 March to 9 May were predictors for ILI. Respondents reported that 680 (6%) of 11,411 housemates were ill; living with an ill housemate was a predictor for ILI (RR, 1.38; CI, 1.04-1.83). Close contact or prolonged exposures to ill persons were likely associated with experiencing ILI. Self-protective measures should be promoted in university populations to mitigate transmission.
authors.affiliation: Epidemic Intelligence Office, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA. ggt4@cdc.gov
authors.forename: Alice
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Guh
authors.forename: Carrie
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Reed
authors.forename: L Hannah
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Gould
authors.forename: Preeta
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kutty
authors.forename: Danielle
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Iuliano
authors.forename: Tarissa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mitchell
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dee
authors.forename: Mitesh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Desai
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Siebold
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Silverman
authors.forename: Mehran
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Massoudi
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lynch
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sotir
authors.forename: Gregory
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Armstrong
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Swerdlow
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003691:Delaware / Q000453:epidemiology; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053118:Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission* / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult