title: Respiratory viruses in airline travellers with influenza symptoms: Results of an airport screening study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is very little known about the prevalence and distribution of respiratory viruses, other than influenza, in international air travellers and whether symptom screening would aid in the prediction of which travellers are more likely to be infected with specific respiratory viruses.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  In this study, we investigate whether, the use of a respiratory symptom screening tool at the border would aid in predicting which travellers are more likely to be infected with specific respiratory viruses.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were collected from travellers arriving at Christchurch International Airport, New Zealand, during the winter 2008, via a symptom questionnaire, temperature testing, and respiratory sampling.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Respiratory viruses were detected in 342 (26.0%) of 1313 samples obtained from 2714 symptomatic travellers. The most frequently identified viruses were rhinoviruses (128), enteroviruses (77) and influenza B (48). The most frequently reported symptoms were stuffy or runny nose (60%), cough (47%), sore throat (27%) and sneezing (24%). Influenza B infections were associated with the highest number of symptoms (mean of 3.4) followed by rhinoviruses (mean of 2.2) and enteroviruses (mean of 1.9). The positive predictive value (PPV) of any symptom for any respiratory virus infection was low at 26%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The high prevalence of respiratory virus infections caused by viruses other than influenza in this study, many with overlapping symptotology to influenza, has important implications for any screening strategies for the prediction of influenza in airline travellers.
authors.affiliation: Virology Section, Canterbury Health Laboratories, and Pathology Department, University of Otago, Christchurch 8011, New Zealand. Electronic address: lance.jennings@cdhb.health.nz.
authors.forename: Lance C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Jennings
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, University of Otago, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Patricia C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Priest
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, University of Otago, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Rebecca A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Psutka
authors.affiliation: Planning and Funding, Canterbury District Health, Christchurch 8011, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Alasdair R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Duncan
authors.affiliation: Virology Section, Canterbury Health Laboratories, Christchurch 8011, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Trevor
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.affiliation: Virology Section, Canterbury Health Laboratories, Christchurch 8011, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Patalee
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mahagamasekera
authors.affiliation: Virology Section, Canterbury Health Laboratories, Christchurch 8011, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Strathdee
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, University of Otago, Wellington 6242, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Michael G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Baker
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D059028:Airports; D001831:Body Temperature; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D009520:New Zealand; D015995:Prevalence; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014195:Travel; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology*; D014780:Viruses / Q000145:classification* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Enterovirus; Influenza; Respiratory viruses; Rhinovirus; Screening