The effects of school closures on influenza outbreaks and pandemics: systematic review of simulation studies.

ABSTRACT:

Background

School closure is a potential intervention during an influenza pandemic and has been investigated in many modelling studies.

Objectives

To systematically review the effects of school closure on influenza outbreaks as predicted by simulation studies.

Methods

We searched Medline and Embase for relevant modelling studies published by the end of October 2012, and handsearched key journals. We summarised the predicted effects of school closure on the peak and cumulative attack rates and the duration of the epidemic. We investigated how these predictions depended on the basic reproduction number, the timing and duration of closure and the assumed effects of school closures on contact patterns.

Results

School closures were usually predicted to be most effec

SUBMITTER: Jackson C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4022492 | biostudies-literature | 2014

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature