2009 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.

[Development of the mortality in premature infants from 32 weeks gestation and below in Fort-de-France]. / Evolution de la mortalité des prématurés de 32 semaines et moins d'âge gestationnel à Fort-de-France.

The mortality rate of prematures of gestational age less than or equal to 32 weeks during hospitalization in the neonatal intensive care unit of the University Hospital in Fort-de-France (Martinique, French Caribbeans) decreased from 69% in 1980 to 32% in 1987-1988 and to 20% in 1989. The mortality of small for gestational age children during the cumulated years 1987-1988-1989 was twice that of babies with normal birth weight. The various factors responsible for these facts were reviewed: caesarean section rates increased from 15% in 1980 to 42% in 1989, percentage of children submitted to assisted ventilation increased from 35% in 1980 to 78% in 1989 and mortality rate related to hyaline membrane disease decreased from 100% in 1980 to 33% in 1989. The comparison with a survey performed in 1985 in the Paris area showed no significant difference with the mortality rate of premature infants of gestational age greater than or equal to 27 weeks born in the University Hospital in Fort-de-France. Therefore an important effort remains necessary concerning mostly children under 27 weeks of gestational age.