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The variability of influenza A virus shedding among infected individuals deserves further study because viral shedding has served as a proxy for infectivity. In a study involving outpatients in Hong Kong who had symptoms of acute respiratory illness and positive rapid-test results for influenza A between January 2008 and August 2009, investigators examined this interindividual variability.
A total of 334 children and adults were invited to participate in follow-up: three home visits over approximately 7 days, during which nose and throat swabs were collected for quantification of viral shedding by quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. Participants were also asked to keep daily symptom diaries.
Shedding of the two detec…