Behavior of Adult Influenza Patients during the 2009 Pandemic after Outpatient Clinic Presentations at a Hospital in Tokyo, Japan
10.2149/tmh.2011-09
- Author:
Daisuke Nonaka
;
Hirohisa Morikawa
;
Hiroko Arioka
;
Jun Kobayashi
;
Ryosuke Shoda
;
Tetsuya Mizoue
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
influenza;
disease outbreaks;
behavior;
patient;
health policy
- From:Tropical Medicine and Health
2011;39(3):83-85
- CountryJapan
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
The 2009 pandemic of novel swine-origin influenza A (H1N1) highlighted the importance of community mitigation measures such as voluntary isolation. During the pandemic, we investigated the voluntary isolation behavior of patients with influenza during the 7-day period after they visited an outpatient clinic at a hospital in Tokyo, Japan. A questionnaire-based survey was conducted on patients diagnosed with influenza. Of a total of 14 patients, 13 (93%) visited a workplace, school or other potentially crowded setting at least once in the 7-day period after presentation. Five patients (36%) visited a potentially crowded setting either with a fever or on the day after having a fever. The voluntary isolation behavior of Japanese people with influenza did not necessarily adhere to the Japanese government recommendation that people with influenza-like illness stay home for 7 days following the onset of symptoms.
