Effect of planned school breaks on student absenteeism due to influenza-like illness in school aged children-Oregon School District, Wisconsin September 2014-June 2019.

Autor: He C; University of Wisconsin Madison Wisconsin USA., Norton D; University of Wisconsin Madison Wisconsin USA., Temte JL; University of Wisconsin Madison Wisconsin USA., Barlow S; University of Wisconsin Madison Wisconsin USA., Goss M; University of Wisconsin Madison Wisconsin USA., Temte E; University of Wisconsin Madison Wisconsin USA., Bell C; University of Wisconsin Madison Wisconsin USA., Chen G; University of Wisconsin Madison Wisconsin USA., Uzicanin A; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Atlanta Georgia USA.
Jazyk: angličtina
Zdroj: Influenza and other respiratory viruses [Influenza Other Respir Viruses] 2024 Jan 16; Vol. 18 (1), pp. e13244. Date of Electronic Publication: 2024 Jan 16 (Print Publication: 2024).
DOI: 10.1111/irv.13244
Abstrakt: Background: School-aged children and school reopening dates have important roles in community influenza transmission. Although many studies evaluated the impact of reactive closures during seasonal and pandemic influenza outbreaks on medically attended influenza in surrounding communities, few assess the impact of planned breaks (i.e., school holidays) that coincide with influenza seasons, while accounting for differences in seasonal peak timing. Here, we analyze the effects of winter and spring breaks on influenza risk in school-aged children, measured by student absenteeism due to influenza-like illness (a-ILI).
Methods: We compared a-ILI counts in the 2-week periods before and after each winter and spring break over five consecutive years in a single school district. We introduced a "pseudo-break" of 9 days' duration between winter and spring break each year when school was still in session to serve as a control. The same analysis was applied to each pseudo-break to support any findings of true impact.
Results: We found strong associations between winter and spring breaks and a reduction in influenza risk, with a nearly 50% reduction in a-ILI counts post-break compared with the period before break, and the greatest impact when break coincided with increased local influenza activity while accounting for possible temporal and community risk confounders.
Conclusions: These findings suggest that brief breaks of in-person schooling, such as planned breaks lasting 9-16 calendar days, can effectively reduce influenza in schools and community spread. Additional analyses investigating the impact of well-timed shorter breaks on a-ILI may determine an optimal duration for brief school closures to effectively suppress community transmission of influenza.
Competing Interests: Jonathan L. Temte, MD/PhD reports non‐financial support from Quidel Corporation during the conduct of the study.
(© 2024 The Authors. Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)
Databáze: MEDLINE
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