A Decrease in Temperature and Humidity Precedes Human Rhinovirus Infections in a Cold Climate

Abstract

Both temperature and humidity may independently or jointly contribute to the risk of human rhinovirus (HRV) infections, either through altered survival and spread of viruses in the environment or due to changes in host susceptibility. This study examined the relationship between short-term variations in temperature and humidity and the risk of HRV infections in a subarctic climate. We conducted a case-crossover study among conscripts (n = 892) seeking medical attention due to respiratory symptoms during their military training and identified 147 HRV cases by real-time PCR. An average temperature, a decline in daily ambient temperature and absolute humidity (AH) during the three preceding days of the onset (hazard period) and two reference periods (a week prior and after the onset) were obtained. The average daily temperature preceding HRV infections was −9.9 ± 4.9 °C and the average AH was 2.2 ± 0.9 g/m3. An average (odds ratios (OR) 1.07 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.00–1.15)) and maximal (OR 1.08 (1.01–1.17)) change in temperature increased the risk of HRV infections by 8% per 1 °C decrease. An average (OR 1.20 (CI 1.03–1.40)) and maximal decrease (OR 1.13 (CI 0.96–1.34)) in AH increased the risk of HRV infection by 13% and 20% per 0.5 g/m3 decrease. A higher average temperature during the three preceding days was positively associated with HRV infections (OR 1.07 (CI 1.00–1.15)). A decrease rather than low temperature and humidity per se during the preceding few days increases the risk of HRV infections in a cold climate. The information is applicable to populations residing in cold climates for appropriate personal protection and prevention of adverse health effects.

A Predictive Model of the Temperature-Dependent Inactivation of Coronaviruses

“…Meanwhile, virus transmission has been linked to both seasonal and regional variations in climate, where colder atmospheric temperatures typically lead to longer virus lifetimes outside of their hosts. This effect has been reported for both influenza 8,9 and the common cold, 10 and even SARS-CoV-1 has been shown to survive longer at lower temperatures. 11 Epidemiologists require more information on the lifetime of SARS-CoV-2 as a function of atmospheric temperature in order to accurately model the spread of COVID-19.…”

Environmental and Health Effects of Ventilation in Subway Stations: A Literature Review

“…Low RH may cause desiccation or dehydration of nasal epithelium and, therefore, worsen the inflammations [67,68]. Thirdly, cold and low RH conditions are conducive to the survival and transmission of some influenza viruses like respiratory syncytial virus, human rhinovirus, and avian influenza virus [57,69,70], but the opposite has been observed for dust-mite allergens and other virus types [57,71,72].…”

Why respiratory viruses or bacteria have the highest probability to be deposited in the respiratory tract in flu seasons

“…For countries with temperate and cold climates there is opinion (cite from (Ikaheimo et al, 2016)) that cooling of the body surface and even acute chilling of the feet could elicit a reflex of vasoconstriction in the nose and upper airways, inhibit the respiratory defense and convert an asymptomatic subclinical viral infection into a symptomatic clinical infection (Eccles, 2002;Johnson and Eccles, 2005).…”

“…The more low humidity the more effective the airborne transmission (low humidity leads to the fast evaporation of droplets = Droplets decreases in sizes and may be transmitted over a long distance ) (Lowen et al, 2007;Halloran et al, 2012). In some studies was pointed that relative humidity affects the virus survival (see review in (Shaman and Kohn, 2009;Shaman et al, 2011;Ikaheimo et al, 2016)).…”