[Effectiveness of border screening for detecting Influenza in arriving airline travelers].
OBJECTIVE
We measured symptom and influenza prevalence, and the effectiveness of symptom and temperature screening for identifying influenza, in arriving international airline travelers.


METHODS
This cross-sectional study collected data from travelers to Christchurch International Airport, New Zealand, in winter 2008, via a health questionnaire, temperature testing, and respiratory sampling.


RESULTS
Forms were returned by 15 976 (68%) travelers. Of these, 17% reported at least 1 influenza symptom, with runny or blocked nose (10%) and cough (8%) most common. Respiratory specimens were obtained from 3769 travelers. Estimated prevalence of influenza was 1.1% (4% among symptomatic, 0.2% among asymptomatic). The sensitivity of screening criteria ranged from 84% for "any symptom" to 3% for a fever of 37.8 ÂºC or greater. The positive predictive value was low for all criteria.


CONCLUSIONS
Border screening using self-reported symptoms and temperature testing has limitations for preventing pandemic influenza from entering a country. Using "any symptom" or cough would lead to many uninfected people being investigated, yet some infected people would remain undetected. If more specific criteria such as fever were used, most infected people would enter the country despite screening.
Departamento de Medicina Preventiva y Social, Universidad de Otago, Dunedin, Nueva Zelandia.
Patricia C
PC
Priest
Laboratorios de Salud de la Universidad de Otago en Christchurch y Canterbury, Departamento de Anatomía Patológica, Christchurch, Nueva Zelandia.
Lance C
LC
Jennings
Departamento de Salud Pública y Práctica General, Universidad de Otago en Christchurch.
Alasdair R
AR
Duncan
Departamento de Salud Pública y Práctica General, Universidad de Otago en Christchurch.
Cheryl R
CR
Brunton
Departamento de Salud Pública, Universidad de Otago en Wellington, Wellington, Nueva Zelandia.
Michael G
MG
Baker
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D064870:Air Travel; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003663:Decision Trees; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D055815:Young Adult