Household transmission of influenza (H1N1-2009) in Japan: age-specificity and reduction of household transmission risk by zanamivir treatment

J Int Med Res. 2011;39(2):619-28. doi: 10.1177/147323001103900231.

Abstract

This study investigated household transmission data for influenza (H1N1-2009) in Japan in order to quantify the age-specific risk of infection and estimate the impact of antiviral treatment on the risk of household transmission. Among a total of 1547 households, involving 4609 household contacts, the secondary attack ratio (SAR) was estimated to be 11.4%. School children aged 5 - 18 years dominated the index cases. Age-specific infectiousness and susceptibility were highest among 0 - 4-year olds, with SAR estimated at 19.4% and 29.6%, respectively. Zanamivir treatment within 24 and 24 - 48 h of illness onset in index cases, respectively, reduced the risk of household transmission to 0.57 (95% CI 0.44, 0.73) and 0.58 (95% CI 0.38, 0.86) times that among those receiving the same treatment at > 48 h and those not receiving treatment. The preventive performance of antiviral treatment and prophylaxis should be further examined in randomized controlled trials.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Age Distribution
  • Antiviral Agents / pharmacology
  • Antiviral Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Family Characteristics*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype / drug effects
  • Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype / physiology*
  • Influenza, Human / drug therapy*
  • Influenza, Human / prevention & control
  • Influenza, Human / transmission*
  • Influenza, Human / virology
  • Japan
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Multivariate Analysis
  • Odds Ratio
  • Risk Factors
  • Time Factors
  • Young Adult
  • Zanamivir / pharmacology
  • Zanamivir / therapeutic use*

Substances

  • Antiviral Agents
  • Zanamivir