The new school absentees reporting system for pandemic influenza A/H1N1 2009 infection in Japan

PLoS One. 2012;7(2):e30639. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0030639. Epub 2012 Feb 17.

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the new Japanese School Absentees Reporting System for Infectious Disease (SARSID) for pandemic influenza A/H1N1 2009 infection in comparison with the National epidemiological Surveillance of Infectious Disease (NESID).

Methods: We used data of 53,223 students (97.7%) in Takamatsu city Japan. Data regarding school absentees in SARSID was compared with that in NESID from Oct 13, 2009 to Jan 12, 2010.

Results: Similar trends were observed both in SARSID and NESID. However, the epidemic trend for influenza in SARSID was thought to be more sensitive than that in NESID.

Conclusion: The epidemic trend for influenza among school-aged children could be easily and rapidly assessed by SARSID compared to NESID. SARSID might be useful for detecting the epidemic trend of influenza.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Absenteeism*
  • Adolescent
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Humans
  • Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype / physiology*
  • Influenza, Human / epidemiology*
  • Influenza, Human / virology*
  • Japan / epidemiology
  • Pandemics / statistics & numerical data*
  • Research Report*
  • Schools / statistics & numerical data*