Publications by authors named "Rita O P Fung"
Influenza B viruses split into 2 distinct lineages in the early 1980s, commonly named the Victoria and Yamagata lineages. There are few data on the comparative epidemiology of Victoria- and Yamagata-lineage viruses. In 2007-2011, we enrolled 75 and 34 households containing index patients with acute respiratory illness who tested positive for Yamagata- and Victoria-lineage viruses, respectively, from outpatient clinics in Hong Kong, China.
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- Few studies have explored the effectiveness of self-collected nose and throat swabs for confirming influenza cases in community environments.
- The research involved 176 outpatients with confirmed influenza, analyzing their virus detection and viral load trends over time.
- Results showed that self-swabs provided consistent and reliable data, indicating they can be a valid method for confirming influenza A or B infections outside of clinical settings.
Background: There are few data on the comparative epidemiology and virology of the pandemic 2009 influenza A (H1N1) virus and cocirculating seasonal influenza A viruses in community settings.
Methods: We recruited 348 index patients with acute respiratory illness from 14 outpatient clinics in Hong Kong in July and August 2009. We then prospectively followed household members of 99 patients who tested positive for influenza A virus on rapid diagnostic testing.
Background: Few data are available about the effectiveness of nonpharmaceutical interventions for preventing influenza virus transmission.
Objective: To investigate whether hand hygiene and use of facemasks prevents household transmission of influenza.
Design: Cluster randomized, controlled trial.
Background: Recent studies suggest that humans exhale fine particles during tidal breathing but little is known of their composition, particularly during infection.
Methodology/principal Findings: We conducted a study of influenza infected patients to characterize influenza virus and particle concentrations in their exhaled breath. Patients presenting with influenza-like-illness, confirmed influenza A or B virus by rapid test, and onset within 3 days were recruited at three clinics in Hong Kong, China.
Background: There are sparse data on whether non-pharmaceutical interventions can reduce the spread of influenza. We implemented a study of the feasibility and efficacy of face masks and hand hygiene to reduce influenza transmission among Hong Kong household members.
Methodology/principal Findings: We conducted a cluster randomized controlled trial of households (composed of at least 3 members) where an index subject presented with influenza-like-illness of <48 hours duration.