Emerging Infectious Disease ISSN: 1080-6059

Evidence-based Tool for Triggering School Closures during Influenza Outbreaks, Japan

Asami Sasaki

, Anne Gatewood Hoen, Al Ozonoff, Hiroshi Suzuki, Naohito Tanabe, Nao Seki, Reiko Saito, and John S. Brownstein

Author affiliations: Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA (A. Sasaki); University of Niigata Prefecture, Niigata, Japan (A. Sasaki); Children’s Hospital, Boston (A. Gatewood Hoen, J.S. Brownstein); Harvard Medical School, Boston (A. Gatewood Hoen, J.S. Brownstein); Boston University School of Public Health, Boston (A. Ozonoff); Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata (H. Suzuki, N. Tanabe, N. Seki, R. Saito)

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Figure 1

Four-year surveillance of influenza-related absentee rates in 54 elementary schools in Joetsu City and national surveillance of influenza-like illness (ILI) reported by sentinel physicians in Japan. Data were collected from the second week of January (after the winter holiday) to the third week of March (before the spring holiday). The average of the daily absentee rates for 54 elementary schools during 4 influenza seasons (2005–2008) were 3.29%, 1.77%, 2.97%, and 1.92%, respectively.

Figure 1. Four-year surveillance of influenza-related absentee rates in 54 elementary schools in Joetsu City and national surveillance of influenza-like illness (ILI) reported by sentinel physicians in Japan. Data were collected from the second week of January (after the winter holiday) to the third week of March (before the spring holiday). The average of the daily absentee rates for 54 elementary schools during 4 influenza seasons (2005–2008) were 3.29%, 1.77%, 2.97%, and 1.92%, respectively.

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