Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 at Cadet Camp | CDC EID

EID Journal Home > Volume 16, Number 12–December 2010
Volume 16, Number 12–December 2010
Dispatch
Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 Outbreak at Canadian Forces Cadet Camp


Rhonda Y. Kropp, Comments to Author Laura E. Bogaert, Robert Barber, Francois-William Tremblay, Robert Ennis, Martin Tepper, Robert Pless, Nathalie Bastien, Yan Li, Carole Beaudoin, James Anderson, Louise Pelletier, and Rachel Rodin
Author affiliations: Public Health Agency of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada (R.Y. Kropp, F-W. Tremblay, R. Pless, L. Pelletier, R. Rodin); Department of National Defence Headquarters, Ottawa (L.E. Bogaert, R. Barber, R. Ennis, M. Tepper, J. Anderson); and Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada (N. Bastien, Y. Li, C. Beaudoin)

Suggested citation for this article

Abstract
We conducted a case–control study to describe the clinical and epidemiologic characteristics of an outbreak of pandemic (H1N1) 2009 at a Canadian military cadet training center. We found that asthma and obesity confer greater risk for infection. Viral shedding was detected by PCR up to 18 days after symptom onset.

On July 29, 2009, the Public Health Agency of Canada was notified of an outbreak of pandemic (H1N1) 2009 at the Army Cadet Summer Training Centre Argonaut at Canadian Forces Base, Gagetown, New Brunswick. The Cadet Summer Training Centre camp opened in early July and ran sessions lasting 2–6 weeks. The camp setting was semiclosed, with limited movement on and off camp. A case–control study was conducted to describe transmission, clinical characteristics, viral shedding, and risk factors for infection.

The Study

Approximately 506 cadets, 12–18 years of age, and 322 staff cadets, officers, and support staff lived on camp premises. All persons at the camp were invited to participate. This study received expedited approval from the Health Canada Research Ethics Board. Participants were interviewed in person at the camp or by telephone; swab specimens were collected by on-site nurses. Samples were sent to the National Microbiology Laboratory for testing using reverse transcription–PCR and primer sets developed by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (1). Specimens were cultured in primary CMK cells (Viromed Laboratories, Inc., Minnetonka, MN, USA) and the hemagglutinin titer was checked at days 6 and 10.

A modified case definition for pandemic (H1N1) 2009 infection was developed based on Canada's surveillance case definition for influenza-like illness. Symptom onset was defined as earliest date of onset of self-reported history of fever or cough. The case definition is outlined in Table 1.

During August 3–27, 2009, we conducted 144 face-to-face and 21 phone interviews. Approximately 20% of cadets and 20% of staff cadets, officers, and support staff participated. Of the 165 participants, 56 were classified as confirmed cases, 24 as suspected cases, and 85 as controls. Participant age ranged from 13 to 43 years of age; 88% were 13–18 years, and 55% were male. No statistically significant demographic differences (p<0.05) were observed between confirmed cases, suspected cases, or controls.

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Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 at Cadet Camp | CDC EID


Suggested Citation for this Article

Kropp RY, Bogaert LE, Barber R, Tremblay F-W, Ennis R, Tepper M, et al. Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 outbreak at Canadian forces cadet camp. Emerg Infect Dis [serial on the Internet]. 2010 Dec [date cited]. http://www.cdc.gov/EID/content/16/12/1986.htm

DOI: 10.3201/eid1612.100451

Comments to the Authors

Please use the form below to submit correspondence to the authors or contact them at the following address:

Rhonda Y. Kropp, Travel Health, Public Health Agency of Canada, 130 Colonnade Rd, Rm 396B, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0K9, Canada; email: rhonda.kropp@phac-aspc.gc.ca