An Influenza outbreak among navy personnel at the Navy General Hospital, Colombo in May 2022

The prevalence of acute respiratory tract infections among military personnel has historical roots dating back to World War I, causing significant challenges to armed forces globally. Large scale influenza pandemics have been rare since then. However, mild to moderate respiratory outbreaks persist within the military settings due to various reasons. This brief report elaborates such an influenza A outbreak that occurred among navy personnel in May 2022.
Of 141 navy personnel who presented to the fever clinic, 18 samples were analysed, of which 13 became positive for influenza A (H3). Most of them complained of fever. None of the navy personnel positive for influenza A were admitted to the Navy General Hospital, Colombo (NGHC).
This outbreak was successfully contained with stringent infection control practices implemented since the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and highlights the need for ongoing surveillance and vigilance to prevent resurgence of influenza outbreaks in military settings in future.