Pandemic influenza A(H1N1) outbreak in a complex of schools in Paris, France, June 2009

An outbreak of 2009 pandemic influenza A(H1N1), involving 81 cases with symptoms of influenza-like illness, was confirmed in June 2009 in a complex of schools in Paris, France. At that time, there was no community transmission in France. The index case, a 10-year-old girl, had travelled to the United Kingdom with her school class. Of the 81 symptomatic cases, 35 were confirmed and 46 were probable; 48 of the cases were female. Three were adults and 78 were children (median age of the children was 7.9 years, range: 6 months to 12 years). Control measures were implemented as soon as a new case was confirmed in a school, which included active case finding among the pupils in the same class as the index case, setting up a dedicated influenza outpatient clinic that families were recommended to consult if necessary, prophylactic treatment of contacts and school closure. A retrospective study was conducted on all confirmed cases and all symptomatic cases who had consulted the dedicated outpatient clinic from 17 to 27 June 2009. Further work is needed to better define conditions under which the pandemic virus can be transmitted in schools and in households.