Household transmission of pandemic (H1N1) 2009, San Antonio, Texas, USA, April-May 2009

Emerg Infect Dis. 2010 Apr;16(4):631-7. doi: 10.3201/eid1604.091658.

Abstract

To assess household transmission of pandemic (H1N1) 2009 in San Antonio, Texas, USA, during April 15-May 8, 2009, we investigated 77 households. The index case-patient was defined as the household member with the earliest onset date of symptoms of acute respiratory infection (ARI), influenza-like illness (ILI), or laboratory-confirmed pandemic (H1N1) 2009. Median interval between illness onset in index and secondary case-patients was 4 days (range 1-9 days); the index case-patient was likely to be < or =18 years of age (p = 0.034). The secondary attack rate was 4% for pandemic (H1N1) 2009, 9% for ILI, and 13% for ARI. The secondary attack rate was highest for children <5 years of age (8%-19%) and lowest for adults > or =50 years of age (4%-12%). Early in the outbreak, household transmission primarily occurred from children to other household members and was lower than the transmission rate for seasonal influenza.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Age Factors
  • Antiviral Agents / therapeutic use
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Disease Outbreaks*
  • Family Characteristics*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infectious Disease Incubation Period
  • Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype*
  • Influenza, Human / drug therapy
  • Influenza, Human / epidemiology
  • Influenza, Human / transmission*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Oseltamivir / therapeutic use
  • Texas / epidemiology
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Antiviral Agents
  • Oseltamivir