Evidence-based tool for triggering school closures during influenza outbreaks, Japan

Emerg Infect Dis. 2009 Nov;15(11):1841-3. doi: 10.3201/eid1511.090798.

Abstract

Guidelines available to school administrators to support school closure decisions during influenza outbreaks are usually not evidence-based. Using empirical data on absentee rates of elementary school students in Japan, we developed a simple and practical algorithm for determining the optimal timing of school closures for control of influenza outbreaks.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Absenteeism
  • Algorithms
  • Child
  • Disease Outbreaks* / prevention & control
  • Evidence-Based Practice / statistics & numerical data*
  • Guidelines as Topic
  • Humans
  • Influenza, Human / epidemiology*
  • Influenza, Human / prevention & control
  • Influenza, Human / transmission
  • Japan / epidemiology
  • Population Surveillance
  • Schools
  • Students