Influenza Outbreak in a Long Term Care Facility, Changhua, 2015

DOI: 10.6525/TEB.20160906.32(17).002

Hsiu-Li Chang¹, Sung-Hsi Wei^1,2, Pei-Fang Lai¹, Tsung-hsien Wu⁴,Ching-Fen Ko^{1, 3}, Min-Tsung Lin^1＊

2016 Vol.32 NO.17

Correspondence Author： Min-Tsung Lin^1＊

Abstract：

In July 2015, an influenza outbreak with an attack rate of 39% occurred in a long term care facility (LTCF) in Changhua. Total 45 residents and 3 health care workers developed respiratory symptoms, including 4 confirmed severe influenza infections (one fatal). Nine of the 12 throat swabs tested were positive for influenza type A (H3N2) virus. The administrator of LTCF should well implement health surveillance and case reporting, comply with infection control measures, and increase the vaccination rate of residents and employees. Moreover, prompt administration of antiviral agents could interrupt the influenza outbreak. It is necessary to have more practices and researches to understand the appropriate criteria of antiviral use in LTCFs. Our report provides the experience of controlling influenza outbreak in an LTCF.