Increased Risk of Influenza-Like Illness Clusters in Schools, Taiwan from 2011 to 2020: A Retrospective Study
Abstract Acute influenza-like illnesses (ILIs) are primarily caused by influenza type A or type B viruses. Several factors influence the risk of the spread of ILIs. The present study investigated the epidemiological characteristics, differences, and epidemiological trends of influenza viruses, nonin...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Springer
2025-02-01
|
| Series: | Journal of Epidemiology and Global Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1007/s44197-025-00366-1 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1823863421775380480 |
|---|---|
| author | Yu-Ching Chou Fu-Huang Lin Chi-Jeng Hsieh Chia-Peng Yu |
| author_facet | Yu-Ching Chou Fu-Huang Lin Chi-Jeng Hsieh Chia-Peng Yu |
| author_sort | Yu-Ching Chou |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Acute influenza-like illnesses (ILIs) are primarily caused by influenza type A or type B viruses. Several factors influence the risk of the spread of ILIs. The present study investigated the epidemiological characteristics, differences, and epidemiological trends of influenza viruses, noninfluenza respiratory pathogens, and locations where clusters occurred in Taiwan between 2011 and 2020. The study analyzed publicly available data on 1,545 confirmed ILI clusters, with the data obtained from the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control. In total, 1,334 ILI clusters were caused by influenza virus infection, 11 ILI clusters were caused by noninfluenza respiratory pathogens, and 78 ILI clusters were caused by pathogens not detected in routine testing. Additionally, for 122 ILI clusters, no pathogen detection was initiated. Significant differences were observed (p < 0.001) in the number of ILI clusters between influenza and noninfluenza respiratory pathogens in 2011–2020. In addition, significant differences were observed (p < 0.001) in the number of ILI clusters between locations in 2011–2020. In terms of specific pathogens within ILI clusters, single infections with influenza A virus accounted for the highest number of cases (69.6%, 1076/1358, odds ratio: 1.740–2.957, p < 0.001–0.012), followed by adenovirus infections among noninfluenza respiratory pathogens (58.3%, 7/12). Schools had the highest number of ILI clusters (47.3%, 731/1545) among the investigated institutions (odds ratio: 1.438–1.556, p < 0.001–0.012). This study provides valuable insights into ILI cluster transmission patterns in Taiwan over a 10-year period and highlights the importance of long-term studies covering a wide geographic area as a means of understanding the implications of such patterns. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-599cef445ef54e4a8e2221480c79a14a |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2210-6014 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | Springer |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Epidemiology and Global Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-599cef445ef54e4a8e2221480c79a14a2025-02-09T12:09:47ZengSpringerJournal of Epidemiology and Global Health2210-60142025-02-011511810.1007/s44197-025-00366-1Increased Risk of Influenza-Like Illness Clusters in Schools, Taiwan from 2011 to 2020: A Retrospective StudyYu-Ching Chou0Fu-Huang Lin1Chi-Jeng Hsieh2Chia-Peng Yu3School of Public Health, National Defense Medical CenterSchool of Public Health, National Defense Medical CenterDepartment of Healthcare Administration, Asia Eastern University of Science and TechnologySchool of Public Health, National Defense Medical CenterAbstract Acute influenza-like illnesses (ILIs) are primarily caused by influenza type A or type B viruses. Several factors influence the risk of the spread of ILIs. The present study investigated the epidemiological characteristics, differences, and epidemiological trends of influenza viruses, noninfluenza respiratory pathogens, and locations where clusters occurred in Taiwan between 2011 and 2020. The study analyzed publicly available data on 1,545 confirmed ILI clusters, with the data obtained from the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control. In total, 1,334 ILI clusters were caused by influenza virus infection, 11 ILI clusters were caused by noninfluenza respiratory pathogens, and 78 ILI clusters were caused by pathogens not detected in routine testing. Additionally, for 122 ILI clusters, no pathogen detection was initiated. Significant differences were observed (p < 0.001) in the number of ILI clusters between influenza and noninfluenza respiratory pathogens in 2011–2020. In addition, significant differences were observed (p < 0.001) in the number of ILI clusters between locations in 2011–2020. In terms of specific pathogens within ILI clusters, single infections with influenza A virus accounted for the highest number of cases (69.6%, 1076/1358, odds ratio: 1.740–2.957, p < 0.001–0.012), followed by adenovirus infections among noninfluenza respiratory pathogens (58.3%, 7/12). Schools had the highest number of ILI clusters (47.3%, 731/1545) among the investigated institutions (odds ratio: 1.438–1.556, p < 0.001–0.012). This study provides valuable insights into ILI cluster transmission patterns in Taiwan over a 10-year period and highlights the importance of long-term studies covering a wide geographic area as a means of understanding the implications of such patterns.https://doi.org/10.1007/s44197-025-00366-1InfluenzaClusterSchoolEpidemiology |
| spellingShingle | Yu-Ching Chou Fu-Huang Lin Chi-Jeng Hsieh Chia-Peng Yu Increased Risk of Influenza-Like Illness Clusters in Schools, Taiwan from 2011 to 2020: A Retrospective Study Journal of Epidemiology and Global Health Influenza Cluster School Epidemiology |
| title | Increased Risk of Influenza-Like Illness Clusters in Schools, Taiwan from 2011 to 2020: A Retrospective Study |
| title_full | Increased Risk of Influenza-Like Illness Clusters in Schools, Taiwan from 2011 to 2020: A Retrospective Study |
| title_fullStr | Increased Risk of Influenza-Like Illness Clusters in Schools, Taiwan from 2011 to 2020: A Retrospective Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Increased Risk of Influenza-Like Illness Clusters in Schools, Taiwan from 2011 to 2020: A Retrospective Study |
| title_short | Increased Risk of Influenza-Like Illness Clusters in Schools, Taiwan from 2011 to 2020: A Retrospective Study |
| title_sort | increased risk of influenza like illness clusters in schools taiwan from 2011 to 2020 a retrospective study |
| topic | Influenza Cluster School Epidemiology |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1007/s44197-025-00366-1 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT yuchingchou increasedriskofinfluenzalikeillnessclustersinschoolstaiwanfrom2011to2020aretrospectivestudy AT fuhuanglin increasedriskofinfluenzalikeillnessclustersinschoolstaiwanfrom2011to2020aretrospectivestudy AT chijenghsieh increasedriskofinfluenzalikeillnessclustersinschoolstaiwanfrom2011to2020aretrospectivestudy AT chiapengyu increasedriskofinfluenzalikeillnessclustersinschoolstaiwanfrom2011to2020aretrospectivestudy |