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- Title
Presence of Influenza Virus on Touch Surfaces in Kindergartens and Primary Schools.
- Authors
Fong, Min Whui; Leung, Nancy H L; Xiao, Jingyi; Chu, Daniel K W; Cheng, Samuel M S; So, Hau Chi; Li, Yuguo; Ip, Dennis K M; Peiris, J S Malik; Cowling, Benjamin J
- Abstract
<bold>Backgrounds: </bold>Influenza virus can survive on some surfaces, facilitating indirect person-to-person transmission.<bold>Methods: </bold>We collected swab samples weekly from commonly touched surfaces in 7 kindergartens and primary schools during the 2017/2018 winter influenza season in Hong Kong.<bold>Results: </bold>We detected influenza virus ribonucleic acid (RNA) in 12 of 1352 samples (<1%) collected from 7 of 11 classrooms (5 to 2 × 106 RNA copies/mL). Viral RNA was more frequently recovered from communal items inside classrooms such as bookshelves and doorknobs.<bold>Conclusions: </bold>Surface contamination indicates the potential role of fomites in influenza virus transmission in schools. Communal items inside classrooms may cause greater potential risks of transmission during influenza epidemics.
- Publication
Journal of Infectious Diseases, 2020, Vol 221, pN.PAG
- ISSN
0022-1899
- Publication type
journal article
- DOI
10.1093/infdis/jiaa114