Jeffrey Shaman, an Oregon State University atmospheric scientist, has discovered a link between absolute humidity and influenza outbreaks. This discovery does not shock the scientific community in that scientists have long suspected a link between humidity and seasonal(epidemic) flu outbreaks. While scientists have focused on relative humidity, absolute humidity is the actual amount of water in the air, irrespective of temperature. Researchers used thirty-one years of observed absolute humidity conditions to create a mathematical model of influenza and found that the simulations reproduced the seasonal cycle of influenza in the United States.
Beginning observations in New York, Washington, Illinois, Arizona and Florida, then spreading to the rest of the continental U.S. Shaman and his colleagues discovered that the start of many influenza outbreaks during the winter came after a period of weather that was drier than usual. Shaman makes it a point to clarify that a dry period is not a necessary requirement to trigger an influenza outbreak, nor can the information help predict where there will be an influenza outbreak . However, this discovery could have a major impact on the development of strategies forlimiting spread of infection.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
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This is very interesting. I have a mild form of asthma (I've basically grown out of it), but I know that I always feel better when the air is drier. I also often get a cold when the weather changes from dry and cold to humid and warm, so this could be an explanation for that.
ReplyDeleteThis is a cool blog.
ReplyDeleteI think this is useful information to scientists about the severity of humidity and influenza