Investigation of a Suspect Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 and Influenza A Mixed Outbreak: Lessons Learned for Long-Term Care Facilities Nationwide

Caroline A Schrodt; Jason H Malenfant; Jennifer C Hunter; Kara Jacobs Slifka; Angela Campbell; Nimalie Stone; Erin R Whitehouse; Beth Wittry; Bryan Christensen; John R Barnes; Lynnette Brammer; Peera Hemarajata; Nicole M Green; Rachel Civen; Prabhu P Gounder; Agam K Rao

doi:10.1093/cid/ciab372

Investigation of a Suspect Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 and Influenza A Mixed Outbreak: Lessons Learned for Long-Term Care Facilities Nationwide

Clin Infect Dis. 2021 Jul 15;73(Suppl 1):S77-S80. doi: 10.1093/cid/ciab372.

Authors

Caroline A Schrodt^{1

2}, Jason H Malenfant³, Jennifer C Hunter⁴, Kara Jacobs Slifka⁴, Angela Campbell⁵, Nimalie Stone⁴, Erin R Whitehouse^{1

2}, Beth Wittry², Bryan Christensen², John R Barnes⁵, Lynnette Brammer⁵, Peera Hemarajata⁶, Nicole M Green⁶, Rachel Civen⁷, Prabhu P Gounder³, Agam K Rao²

Affiliations

¹ Epidemic Intelligence Service, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
² CDC COVID-19 Response Team, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
³ Acute Communicable Disease Control Program, Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, Los Angeles, California, USA.
⁴ Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
⁵ Influenza Division, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
⁶ Public Health Laboratory, Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, Downey, California, USA.
⁷ Community Health Services Program, Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, Los Angeles, California, USA.

Abstract

A suspected outbreak of influenza A and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) at a long-term care facility in Los Angeles County was, months later, determined to not involve influenza. To prevent inadvertent transmission of infections, facilities should use highly specific influenza diagnostics and follow Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines that specifically address infection control challenges.

Keywords: COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; influenza; long-term care facility; outbreak.

Published by Oxford University Press for the Infectious Diseases Society of America 2021.

MeSH terms

COVID-19*
Disease Outbreaks
Humans
Influenza, Human* / diagnosis
Influenza, Human* / epidemiology
Long-Term Care
SARS-CoV-2

Grants and funding

NU50CK000574/Infectious Diseases Society of America through Cooperative Agreement