Effect of 4-Day School District Closure on Influenza-Like Illness Rates Among Students and Household Members — Kentucky, 2013

Coordinated proactive school closures can help to reduce disease transmission in communities during an influenza pandemic; however, limited information is available about effects of school closures during influenza-like illness (ILI) outbreaks. A rural school district (District A) in Kentucky was closed during January 29-February 1, 2013, in response to an increase in ILI-related student absenteeism.

Objective

We investigated effects of this closure by comparing self-reported illness among household members of students enrolled in District A with 2 adjacent districts (Districts B and C) that remained open during that period.