Management of Influenza Outbreaks in Secondary Boarding Schools in Plateau State

Secondary boarding schools are closed institutional settings that facilitate rapid influenza transmission through shared dormitories, communal dining, and classroom crowding. Influenza outbreaks in these settings cause significant academic disruption and place pressure on school health services. This study examines the management of influenza outbreaks at secondary boarding schools in Plateau State, North Central Nigeria, with a focus on outbreak detection, response protocols, and staff preparedness. A mixed-methods study will survey school health officers, matrons, and principals at 20 boarding schools in Jos North, Jos South, and Barkin Ladi local government areas using structured questionnaires and semi-structured interviews. The study will document the frequency of influenza-like illness episodes reported over two academic years (2022 to 2024), case management practices, antiviral prescription patterns, and use of non-pharmaceutical interventions such as class suspension and dormitory disinfection. Laboratory confirmation rates for influenza outbreaks at school health facilities will also be assessed. The existing literature highlights near-total absence of systematic influenza outbreak protocols in Nigerian boarding schools. Findings will provide school administration authorities in Plateau State with an evidence-based framework for influenza outbreak response, incorporating early detection, notification, and containment strategies aligned with national Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response guidelines. Keywords: influenza, school outbreak, boarding schools, Plateau State, outbreak management