Publication:

Role of temperature in influenza outbreaks

Respiratory tract infections are among the most common types of infections, globally. Seasonal variations have been associated with substantial roles in influencing respiratory mortality and morbidity. The effects of seasonal variations of respiratory tract infections are evidenced by the monthly increase in the use of healthcare services and hospital admissions during colder seasons. Influenza outbreaks are associated with worse health problems, which increase the morbidity and mortality rate of high-risk populations. Comparing tropical and colder regions, temperatures are high during summer and lower during winter. Additionally, relative humidity is comparatively higher in winter than in summer.  In winters, the indoor humidity is low due to heating facilities, which suggests that cold air outside and dry air inside that occurs during the winter favors the transmission of the influenza virus and thus, triggering a flu infection season.