Previously submitted to: JMIR Public Health and Surveillance (no longer under consideration since May 07, 2018)
Date Submitted: Dec 13, 2017
Open Peer Review Period: Dec 27, 2017 - May 7, 2018
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Outbreak of Human Metapneumovirus in Ibaraki, Japan and its descriptive epidemiology
Background:
Because the Infection Control Law does not cover monitoring of human metapneumovirus (HMPV), its epidemiology is not well known, at least in Japan. However, the rapid diagnostic test for this disease has been reimbursed by public health insurance in Japan since 2014. Physicians can diagnose HMPV infection. In Ibaraki prefecture, all schools started to operate the (Nursery) School Absenteeism Surveillance System ((N)SASSy) in 2009. All nursery schools joined the system in 2012.
Objective:
This paper describes HMPV infection epidemiology.
Methods:
In Ibaraki, schools and nursery schools have participated in (N)SASSy since 2009. As of May 2016, health conditions of 43,479 nursery school children and 343,413 students were recorded in the system. The study period extends from October 1, 2014 to May 31, 2017. For comparison in April 2017, when acute encephalitis was reported, we also specifically examine incidence in April and May of each year.
Results:
Spring and early summer are apparently the high season for HMPV. The highest incidence was in April 2015; the next highest was April 2017. The incidence of zero and one year olds was higher in 2017 than in the same season during the last two years.
Conclusions:
he rapid diagnostic test for HMPV, which enables bedside diagnosis, was approved in 2014, elucidating the epidemiology of HMPV for the first time. Ibaraki prefecture published a reminder to (nursery) schools in July. Using (N)SASSy, it is possible to detect outbreaks earlier and respond in a timely manner, thereby improving public health even for diseases not monitored under the Infection Control Law. Timely evaluation for infectious diseases using (N)SASSy should be continued and promoted for notification and precaution against many diseases.
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