title: Cluster of influenza A cases in vaccinated population of adults in Virology Laboratory in Glasgow in December 2012.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The majority of influenza infections during the 2012/2013 influenza season in Scotland have been due to influenza A H3N2. We report an outbreak of influenza A H3N2 in a vaccinated population of adults in the Regional Virology Laboratory in Glasgow. This investigation was carried out to confirm the epidemiological link between cases.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Staff with clinical symptoms of influenza-like illness were included. Samples were tested by real-time polymerase chain reaction and sequencing. Staff were interviewed to obtain information regarding symptom onset and vaccination status. Eight confirmed cases and six clinically diagnosed cases were reported, which all occurred within 4 days of a lunchtime Christmas quiz. The eight samples subtyped as H3 virus. The haemagglutinin gene in the confirmed cases was sequenced and shown to be identical. Most of the attendees had been immunised against influenza with the same vaccine batch at least 6 weeks earlier.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This outbreak appears to have been an isolated incident, which arose due to a social event that provided the ideal conditions for transmission of a respiratory disease. It may have been compounded by low-vaccine effectiveness this season. Sequence data supported the epidemiological link.
authors.affiliation: Principal Clinical Scientist, West of Scotland Specialist Virology Centre, Glasgow Royal Infirmary, Glasgow, UK.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bradley-Stewart
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Maclean
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Aitken
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Whittaker
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Gregory
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Daniels
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gunson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005260:Female; D006282:Health Personnel; D006801:Humans; D053122:Influenza A Virus, H3N2 Subtype / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D007252:Influenza Vaccines; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000382:microbiology*; D007755:Laboratories, Hospital; D008297:Male; D012606:Scotland; D018571:Sentinel Surveillance; D014611:Vaccination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
chemical_list: D007252:Influenza Vaccines
keywords: H3N2; Influenza; outbreak; vaccine effectiveness