Description and evaluation of the 2009-2010 Pennsylvania Influenza Sentinel School Monitoring System.

Am J Public Health

Mississippi State Department of Health, Jackson, MS 39215-1700, USA.

Published: November 2011

Objectives: We described and evaluated the 2009-2010 Pennsylvania Influenza Sentinel School Monitoring System, a voluntary sentinel network of schools that report data on school absenteeism and visits to the school nurse for influenza-like illness (ILI).

Methods: Participating schools provided daily absenteeism and ILI data on a weekly basis through an online survey. We used participation and weekly response rates to determine acceptability, timeliness, and simplicity. We assessed representativeness by comparing participating schools with nonparticipating schools. We compared monitoring system data with statewide reports of laboratory-confirmed influenza.

Results: Of the 3244 Pennsylvania public schools, 367 (11%) enrolled in the system. On average, 79% of enrolled schools completed the survey each week. Although the peak week of elevated absenteeism coincided with the peak of statewide laboratory-confirmed influenza cases, the correlation between absenteeism and state data was nonsignificant (correlation coefficient = 0.10; P = .56). Trends in ILI correlated significantly with state data (correlation coefficient = 0.67; P < .001).

Conclusions: The school-based sentinel system is a simple, acceptable, reliable device for tracking absenteeism and ILI in schools. Further analyses are necessary to determine the comparative value of this system and other influenza surveillance systems.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3222410PMC
http://dx.doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2011.300132DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

monitoring system
12
2009-2010 pennsylvania
8
pennsylvania influenza
8
influenza sentinel
8
sentinel school
8
school monitoring
8
participating schools
8
absenteeism ili
8
state data
8
correlation coefficient
8

Similar Publications

This study reports on the development of a highly sensitive non-enzymatic electrochemical sensor based on a two-dimensional TiCT/MWCNT-OH nanocomposite for the detection of paraoxon-based pesticide. The synergistic effect between the TiCT nanosheet and the functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes enhanced the sensor's conductivity and catalytic activity. The nanocomposite demonstrates superior electrochemical and electroanalytical performance compared to the pristine TiCT and MWCNT-OH in detecting paraoxon-ethyl in fruit samples (green and red grapes), with a linear response range from 0.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Community health workers (CHWs) play a significant role in supporting health services delivery in communities with few trained health care providers. There has been limited research on ways to optimize the role of CHWs in HIV prevention service delivery. This study explored CHWs' experiences with offering HIV prevention services [HIV testing and HIV pre- and post-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP and PEP)] during three pilot studies in rural communities in Kenya and Uganda, which aimed to increase biomedical HIV prevention coverage via a structured patient-centered HIV prevention delivery model.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) in children, including concussion, is one of the major causes of emergency department (ED) registration and a significant burden on the health system.

Objectives: The primary goal of this study was to evaluate the outcomes of a telemedicine strategy for remotely monitoring the children with traumatic brain concussions, focusing on their neurological symptoms and signs. The secondary goal was to explore socioeconomic and educational differences among the participating families.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

RIBULOSE-1,5-BISPHOSPHATE CARBOXYLASE/OXYGENASE (RUBISCO) is the most abundant enzyme and CO2 bio-sequestration system on Earth. Its in vivo activity is usually determined by 14CO2 incorporation into 3-phosphoglycerate (3PGA). However, the radiometric analysis of 3PGA does not distinguish carbon positions.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Intrahepatic portosystemic shunt: salvage mechanism for oligohydramnios complicating fetal growth restriction.

Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol

January 2025

Ultrasound Unit, Helen Schneider Hospital for Women, Rabin Medical Center, Beilinson Hospital, Petach Tikva, Israel.

Objective: Portosystemic shunts in growth-restricted fetuses are more common than previously thought. We aimed to describe fetuses with growth restriction and transient oligohydramnios in which a congenital intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (CIPSS) was noted during follow-up.

Methods: This was a retrospective study of all fetuses diagnosed with growth restriction and transient oligohydramnios during a 5-year period in a large tertiary referral center.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!