The characteristics of imported cases and the effectiveness of outbreak control strategies of pandemic influenza A (H1N1) in China

• Published in: Asia-Pacific journal of public health Vol. 24; no. 6; p. 932
• Main Authors: Zhang, Yi, Yang, Peng, Liyanage, Surabhi, Seale, Holly, Deng, Ying, Pang, Xinghuo, Tian, Lili, Liu, Baiwei, Zhang, Li, Wang, Quanyi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: China 01.11.2012
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Child; Child, Preschool; China - epidemiology; Contact Tracing; Disease Outbreaks - prevention & control; Female; Humans; Infant; Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype - isolation & purification; Influenza, Human - epidemiology; Influenza, Human - prevention & control; Male; Middle Aged; Pandemics - prevention & control; Pharynx - virology; Public Health Surveillance - methods; Quarantine; Travel; Young Adult; China
• ISSN: 1941-2479
• DOI: 10.1177/1010539511408285

The aim of this article was to describe the epidemiological characteristics of imported cases of pandemic influenza A (H1N1) and to assess the effectiveness of public health intervention measures in Beijing, China. Data on imported cases were collected via border entry screening, influenza-like illness screening in hospitals, medical follow-up of travelers from overseas, and quarantined close contacts. The characteristics of these cases were investigated. Pharyngeal swabs were collected and tested using polymerase chain reaction. A total of 609 imported cases were confirmed in Beijing from May 16 to September 30, 2009. Subjects aged <20 years accounted for 47.3%, and females represented 49.1%. Most cases were from North America and South America (27.3%). There were 21.8%, 18.7%, 3.1%, and 56.3% of cases detected separately via border entry screening, quarantined close contacts, medical follow-up of travelers from overseas, and influenza-like illness screening in hospitals, respectively. The 4 strategies were able to detect the cases efficiently but the use of resources was high.