title: Mass oseltamivir prophylaxis halts pandemic influenza A H1N1 2009 outbreak in a secondary school in Ashanti Region, Ghana.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the epidemiology and public health response to H1N1 outbreak and make recommendations to prevent future outbreaks.
  
  
  METHODS
  A descriptive study of an outbreak investigation.
  
  
  METHODS
  A secondary school in Asante Akim South District.
  
  
  METHODS
  Influenza A H1N1 2009 infection was laboratory-confirmed by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) in clinically ill students after collecting throat swabs. Sixty students of the school had presented with fever, cough, headache and sore throat. The students' dormitories were also inspected to assess degree of ventilation and general level of cleanliness in the rooms.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The outbreak followed a propagated transmission lasting 10 days with two peaks on 22(nd) and 24(th) June, 2010.The clinical attack rate was 9.9%. Secondary attack rates at the highly congested female dormitory were 28%, 31.3% and 17.8% for Rooms 1, 2 and 3 respectively. The generation time for the Influenza H1N1 a 2009 outbreak in the school was about two days.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A mild form of Influenza A H1N1 2009 was confirmed in a secondary school affecting mainly those in the boarding house. Cases identified were treated, but post-exposure prophylaxis with oseltamivir administered to the remaining school population actually halted the outbreak, after social distancing interventions had not succeeded.
authors: Ashanti Regional Health Directorate, Ghana Health Service, P. O Box 1908, Kumasi, Ghana. kofi1170@yahoo.co.uk
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Asiedu-Bekoe
authors: D A
authors: DA
authors: Adu
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Offei
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005869:Ghana / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D053118:Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype / Q000302:isolation & purification; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D053139:Oseltamivir / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D058873:Pandemics / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010356:Patient Isolation; D010614:Pharynx / Q000821:virology; D056990:Post-Exposure Prophylaxis; D012574:Schools; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D053139:Oseltamivir
keywords: Influenza A H1N1 2009; oseltamivir; outbreak; prophylaxis; respiratory illness
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