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A review of outbreaks of infectious disease in schools in England and Wales 1979–88

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 May 2009

C. Joseph ,
N. Noah ,
J. White  and
T. Hoskins
C. Joseph
Affiliation:
Public Health Laboratory Service, Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre, 61 Colindale Avenue, London NW9 5EQ
N. Noah
Affiliation:
Kings College School of Medicine and Dentistry, Bessemer Road, London SE5 9PJ
J. White
Affiliation:
Public Health Laboratory Service, Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre, 61 Colindale Avenue, London NW9 5EQ
T. Hoskins
Affiliation:
Christs Hospital, Horsham, Sussex
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Summary

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In this review of 66 outbreaks of infectious disease in schools in England and Wales between 1979–88, 27 were reported from independent and 39 from maintained schools. Altogether, over 8000 children and nearly 500 adults were affected. Most of the outbreaks investigated were due to gastrointestinal infections which affected about 5000 children; respiratory infections affected a further 2000 children. Fifty-two children and seven adults were admitted to hospital and one child with measles died. Vaccination policies and use of immunoglobulin for control and prevention of outbreaks in schools have been discussed.

Type
Research Article
Information
Epidemiology & Infection , Volume 105 , Issue 2 , October 1990 , pp. 419 - 434
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1990

References

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