TITLE:
Investigation of an Adenovirus-Induced Respiratory Disease Outbreak
AUTHORS:
Xingyi Geng, Ji Zhang, Guoliang Yang
KEYWORDS:
Epidemiology; Research Methods; Laboratory Examination; Adenovirus; Respiratory Disease
JOURNAL NAME:
Advances in Infectious Diseases,
Vol.3 No.4,
December
5,
2013
ABSTRACT: Objective: An
epidemiological investigation was carried out in school X in Jinan, Shandong
Province, China, to identify
the cause, epidemiology, and etiological characteristics of a febrile respiratory disease
outbreak; and therefore to control the dissemination. Methods: Both field epidemiological
investigations and laboratory examinations were carried out. Results: Forty cases were identified,
in which 38 cases were students and two were teachers. Clinical manifestations included
fever, coughing, headache, and sore throat. A total of 21 pharyngeal swab
specimens were collected and 18tested positive for adenovirus. The
adenovirus hexon gene was sequenced in three of the 18 positive specimens and
the resultsshowed a 100% homology with the standard
HAdV-55 HEXO. Conclusions: The
outbreak originated from an adenovirus-infected student, who spread the
pathogen to her classmates and teacher. The teacher then further disseminated
the disease within the school which led to 40 febrile respiratory infections.