Roles of Humidity and Temperature in Shaping Influenza Seasonality

• Authors: Anice Carmen Lowen, Emory University; John Steel, Emory University
• Journal Title: Journal of Virology
• Volume: Volume 88, Number 14
• Publisher: American Society for Microbiology | 2014-07-01, Pages 7692-7695
• Type of Work: Article | Final Publisher PDF
• Publisher DOI: http://doi.org/10.1128/JVI.03544-13
• Subjects: Health Sciences, Immunology
• Keywords: Science & Technology; Life Sciences & Biomedicine; Virology; VIROLOGY; RELATIVE-HUMIDITY; ABSOLUTE-HUMIDITY; GUINEA-PIG; TRANSMISSION; VIRUS; SURVIVAL; EPIDEMICS

Abstract

Experimental studies in guinea pigs demonstrated that influenza virus transmission is strongly modulated by temperature and humidity. A number of epidemiological studies have followed up on these findings and revealed robust associations between influenza incidence in temperate regions and local conditions of humidity and temperature, offering a long-awaited explanation for the wintertime seasonality of influenza in these locales. Despite recent progress, important questions remain as to the mechanism(s) by which humidity and/or temperature affects transmission. © 2014, American Society for Microbiology.