Neonatal influenza A/H1N1/2009 outbreak in a UK district general hospital

Increasing numbers of cases of neonatal influenza A/H1N1/2009 are being reported in the literature but there are no specific guidelines on outbreak management. We report an outbreak of influenza A/H1N1/2009 in a newborn intensive care unit in a large district general hospital. The index case probably acquired the infection from the mother. Subsequently two other babies were infected, possibly due to the use of continuous positive airway pressure ventilation. The outbreak was brought under control with enhanced surveillance and screening of contacts, isolation of confirmed cases and the use of oseltamivir.