On the epidemiology of influenza: reply to Radonovich et al

Cannell, John; Zasloff, Michael; Garland, Cedric F.; Scragg, Robert; Giovannucci, Edward

doi:10.1186/1743-422x-6-121

Cited by 4 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 15 publications

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“…Thus we postulate that high production of vitamin D and increase rate of retinoic acid (vitamin A) metabolism among Africans confers them with innate immunity advantage against COVID-19 compared to their counterparts in Europe and Americas, who are usually vitamin D deficient and have lesser rate of vitamin A metabolism, hence serving as a contributing factor to the low transmission and mortality rate of the disease in the tropics. This assertion is corroborated by other studies, which depicted an inverse correlation between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-h D) levels and upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) 13,31,32 . Also, the Southern European countries have declined levels of vitamin D due to low exposure (prefer the shade in strong sun) 24 and also as skin pigmentation reduces vitamin D synthesis 33 .…”

Section: Temperature/sunlightsupporting

confidence: 74%

The Environment and COVID-19 Transmission: A Perspective

Sokan-Adeaga

2020

J Health Biol Sci.

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Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has become a severe public health threat worldwide. Despite the global spread, there is an observed aberration and skewness in the geographic/regional distribution of the disease, with a high preponderance of cases and mortality occurring in the temperate regions compared to the tropics. A plausible explanation for this discrepancy could be linked to variability in environmental factors. Hence, this review discusses succinctly the possible influences of geographic location, temperature/sunlight, relative humidity and building design on the rate of transmission of COVID-19. We postulate that elevated melatonin production in a hot climate, high temperature, adequate vitamin D synthesis from sunlight exposure, high relative humidity and efficient ventilation due to housing design confers innate immunity and adaptive advantage to COVID-19 transmission for populations in the tropics over those in the temperate regions. Hence, we recommend that control studies taking into congnizance the relationship between environment and disease be prioritized. Such studies are important for predicting viral disease spread, in particular if this leads to pandemics like in the case of COVID-19, to aid decisions in public health policies at the global level.

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Section: Temperature/sunlightsupporting

confidence: 74%

The Environment and COVID-19 Transmission: A Perspective

Sokan-Adeaga

2020

J Health Biol Sci.

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“…A number of studies have presented data showing an inverse correlation between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-hD) levels and upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) and questions raised about influenza epidemiology [10,[41][42][43]. 25-hD level has been proposed as the seasonal factor for influenza epidemics by correlating 25-hD level inversely with influenza season.…”

Section: Vitamin D Hypothesismentioning

confidence: 99%

Aerosol influenza transmission risk contours: A study of humid tropics versus winter temperate zone

Hanley¹,

Borup

2010

Virol J

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BackgroundIn recent years, much attention has been given to the spread of influenza around the world. With the continuing human outbreak of H5N1 beginning in 2003 and the H1N1 pandemic in 2009, focus on influenza and other respiratory viruses has been increased. It has been accepted for decades that international travel via jet aircraft is a major vector for global spread of influenza, and epidemiological differences between tropical and temperate regions observed. Thus we wanted to study how indoor environmental conditions (enclosed locations) in the tropics and winter temperate zones contribute to the aerosol spread of influenza by travelers. To this end, a survey consisting of 632 readings of temperature (T) versus relative humidity (RH) in 389 different enclosed locations air travelers are likely to visit in 8 tropical nations were compared to 102 such readings in 2 Australian cities, including ground transport, hotels, shops, offices and other publicly accessible locations, along with 586 time course readings from aircraft.ResultsAn influenza transmission risk contour map was developed for T versus RH. Empirical equations were created for estimating: 1. risk relative to temperature and RH, and 2. time parameterized influenza transmission risk. Using the transmission risk contours and equations, transmission risk for each country's locations was compared with influenza reports from the countries. Higher risk enclosed locations in the tropics included new automobile transport, luxury buses, luxury hotels, and bank branches. Most temperate locations were high risk.ConclusionEnvironmental control is recommended for public health mitigation focused on higher risk enclosed locations. Public health can make use of the methods developed to track potential vulnerability to aerosol influenza. The methods presented can also be used in influenza modeling. Accounting for differential aerosol transmission using T and RH can potentially explain anomalies of influenza epidemiology in addition to seasonality in temperate climates.

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Influenza Seasonality

Tang

Loh

2016

Curr Treat Options Infect Dis

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On the epidemiology of influenza: reply to Radonovich et al

Cited by 4 publications

References 15 publications

The Environment and COVID-19 Transmission: A Perspective

The Environment and COVID-19 Transmission: A Perspective

Aerosol influenza transmission risk contours: A study of humid tropics versus winter temperate zone

Influenza Seasonality

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