[Truancy in the wave of the epidemic in 2009-2010 influenza season schools of the city of Ceuta, Spain].

Background: Knowing Influenza absenteeism in the educational environment. Making health education in the same medium.

Methods: Among other actions carried out in the pandemic plan, the absences were monitored by flu-like symptoms in children from kindergarten, primary and secondary public schools and reached epidemiological week 39/2009 to 4/2010, transmitting the data from the Directorate Provincial Ministry of Education to the Ministry of Health and Consumer weekly. These data were compared with the same weeks of Diseases of Compulsory and Ceuta Sentinel Network. Was conducted health education through lectures and written material in schools.

Results: There were a total of 2055 absences, with a peak at week 45. The peak in the States and Red Sentinel was at week 47.

Conclusions: Absenteeism data are complementary to the traditional indicator.