Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 transmission during presymptomatic phase, Japan

Emerg Infect Dis. 2011 Sep;17(9):1737-9. doi: 10.3201/eid1709.101411.

Abstract

During an epidemiologic investigation of pandemic influenza (H1N1) 2009 virus infection in May 2009 in Osaka, Japan, we found 3 clusters in which virus transmission occurred during the presymptomatic phase. This finding has public health implications because it indicates that viral transmission in communities cannot be prevented solely by isolating symptomatic case-patients.

MeSH terms

  • Asymptomatic Infections / epidemiology*
  • Cluster Analysis
  • Communicable Disease Control
  • Contact Tracing*
  • Humans
  • Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype*
  • Influenza, Human / epidemiology
  • Influenza, Human / transmission*
  • Influenza, Human / virology
  • Japan / epidemiology
  • Pandemics*
  • Schools
  • Students