Influenza Outbreaks during World Youth Day 2008 Mass Gathering

Blyth, Christopher C; Foo, Hong; Hal, Sebastiaan J. van; Hurt, Aeron C.; Barr, Ian G.; McPhie, Kenneth; Armstrong, Paul; Rawlinson, William D.; Sheppeard, Vicky; Conaty, Stephen; Staff, Michael; Dwyer, Dominic E.

doi:10.3201/eid1605.091136

Cited by 61 publications

(54 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…The risk of transmission and of the introduction of new strains of viruses in countries hosting MGs or large scale open air festivals has been documented at such events [8,27,28]. Therefore, risk assessment and the establishment of preventive strategies should be implemented in preparation for large scale open air festivals, as for other MGs.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Outbreaks associated to large open air festivals, including music festivals, 1980 to 2012

Botelho-Nevers

2013

Eurosurveillance

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In the minds of many, large scale open air festivals have become associated with spring and summer, attracting many people, and in the case of music festivals, thousands of music fans. These festivals share the usual health risks associated with large mass gatherings, including transmission of communicable diseases and risk of outbreaks. Large scale open air festivals have however specific characteristics, including outdoor settings, on-site housing and food supply and the generally young age of the participants. Outbreaks at large scale open air festivals have been caused by Cryptosporium parvum, Campylobacter spp., Escherichia coli, Salmonella enterica, Shigella sonnei, Staphylococcus aureus, hepatitis A virus, influenza virus, measles virus, mumps virus and norovirus. Faecal-oral and respiratory transmissions of pathogens result from non-compliance with hygiene rules, inadequate sanitation and insufficient vaccination coverage. Sexual transmission of infectious diseases may also occur and is likely to be underestimated and underreported. Enhanced surveillance during and after festivals is essential. Preventive measures such as immunisations of participants and advice on-site and via social networks should be considered to reduce outbreaks at these large scale open air festivals.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Influenza outbreaks have been reported at music festivals [24][25][26][27], with the potential for the spread of new influenza viruses in some cases [27,28]. In Serbia in 2009, 40% of the pandemic influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 cases were linked to the Exit festival [26].…”

Section: Respiratory Transmission and Respiratory Infectionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Outbreaks associated to large open air festivals, including music festivals, 1980 to 2012

Botelho-Nevers

2013

Eurosurveillance

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“…Influenza B virus was believed to have a slower rate of antigenic evolution than influenza A,6 and to cause milder illness than influenza A in the past 7. Like influenza A, influenza B has caused localised outbreaks, including in mass gatherings 2, 8, 9, 10, 11. Moreover, influenza B infection may be underidentified compared with influenza A in healthcare settings,12 so the true burden of influenza B may be underestimated.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Epidemiology of influenza B in Australia: 2001‐2014 influenza seasons

Moa

Muscatello

Turner

et al. 2016

Influenza Resp Viruses

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BackgroundInfluenza B is characterised by two antigenic lineages: B/Victoria and B/Yamagata. These lineages circulate together with influenza A during influenza seasons, with varying incidence from year to year and by geographic region.ObjectiveTo determine the epidemiology of influenza B relative to influenza A in Australia.MethodsLaboratory‐confirmed influenza notifications between 2001 and 2014 in Australia were obtained from the Australian National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System.ResultsA total of 278 485 laboratory‐confirmed influenza cases were notified during the study period, comprising influenza A (82.2%), B (17.1%) and ‘other and untyped’ (0.7%). The proportion of notifications that were influenza B was highest in five‐ to nine‐year‐olds (27.5%) and lowest in persons aged 85 years and over (11.5%). Of all B notifications with lineage determined, 77.1% were B/Victoria and 22.9% were B/Yamagata infections. Mismatches between the dominant B lineage in a season and the trivalent vaccine B lineage occurred in over one‐third of seasons during the study years. In general, influenza B notifications peaked later than influenza A notifications.ConclusionThe proportion of circulating influenza B in Australia during 2001‐2014 was slightly lower than the global average and was dominated by B/Victoria. Compared with influenza A, influenza B infection was more common among older children and young adults and less common in the very elderly. Influenza B lineage mismatch with the trivalent vaccine occurred about one‐third of the time.

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“…Considerable concern is, however, generated by the potential impact of such incidents on the Games, the host population and countries to which athletes and visitors return. Highly infectious diseases with airborne/droplet transmission and short incubation periods pose the greatest potential threat to large public gatherings such as the Games and there are examples where such infections have been transmitted in similar contexts [4][5][6][7]. Considerable effort is directed towards early identification of potential ID threats associated with such events, often including those that may arise outside the host country [8,9], so that appropriate responses may mitigate any significant risk detected.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

International infectious disease surveillance during the London Olympic and Paralympic Games 2012: process and outcomes

et al. 2013

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Surveillance for possible international infectious disease threats to the Olympic and Paralympic Games in London, United Kingdom, was conducted from 2 July to 12 September 2012 by a collaborative team comprising representatives from the Health Protection Agency (Public Health England since April 2013), the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control and the National Travel Health Network and Centre. Team members enhanced their usual international surveillance activities and undertook joint risk assessments of incidents identified as relevant through an agreed set of criteria designed for the Games and using tools developed for this purpose. Although team members responded to a range of international disease incidents as part of their routine roles during this period, no incident was identified that represented a threat to the Games. Six incidents were highlighted by the team that were likely to attract media attention and hence could generate political and public concern. Responding to such concern is an important aspect of the overall public health management of mass gathering events. The lessons learned about the process and outcomes of the enhanced international surveillance will help inform planning by future hosts of similar events.

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Influenza Outbreaks during World Youth Day 2008 Mass Gathering

Abstract: Novel viruses were introduced and seasonal viruses were amplified.

Cited by 61 publications

References 14 publications

Outbreaks associated to large open air festivals, including music festivals, 1980 to 2012

Outbreaks associated to large open air festivals, including music festivals, 1980 to 2012

Epidemiology of influenza B in Australia: 2001‐2014 influenza seasons

International infectious disease surveillance during the London Olympic and Paralympic Games 2012: process and outcomes

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