Investigation of a Scarlet Fever Outbreak in a Primary School, Samut Prakan Province, Thailand, January – March 2025
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Abstract
Scarlet fever, a highly contagious infection caused by Streptococcus pyogenes, poses a significant risk in school settings. On February 27, 2025, a suspected outbreak was reported at a school in Samut Prakan, Thailand, prompting an epidemiological investigation. This investigation aimed to confirm the outbreak, describe its epidemiological characteristics, identify risk factors, and propose effective control measures. A descriptive epidemiological study was conducted. Data were collected from medical records, interviews, and active case finding, analyzing distribution by person, time, and place. An environmental survey, along with throat swab cultures for β-hemolytic Streptococcus pyogenes (group A) and antimicrobial susceptibility testing, was performed. A total of 93 cases were identified (overall attack rate: 5.1%), with the highest rate in 3rd-grade students (13.0%). Key symptoms included fever (86.0%), sore throat (80.4%), and rash (76.3%). Laboratory tests confirmed 7 of 11 cases (63.6%), with the pathogen susceptible to penicillin but resistant to macrolides.
The investigation revealed a propagated source pattern and identified significant environmental risk factors, including classroom overcrowding (0.95 m²/person) and inadequate ventilation. The outbreak was confirmed, driven by person-to-person transmission exacerbated by overcrowding and poor ventilation. Implemented control measures, including patient screening, isolation, health education, and environmental cleaning, successfully stopped the transmission, with no new cases found during follow-up surveillance.
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ผู้แต่งที่ตีพิมพ์กับวารสารโรคและภัยสุขภาพ ภาคตะวันออก ประเทศไทย จะต้องยอมรับเงื่อนไขต่อไปนี้ :
ผู้แต่งจะต้องสงวนลิขสิทธิ์และให้สิทธิ์กับวารสารในการตีพิมพ์เผยแพร่บทความ โดยบทความจะถือเป็นลิขสิทธ์ของ สำนักงานป้องกันควบคุมโรคที่ 6 จังหวัดชลบุรี
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