Giovenale Moirano1, Antonio Gasparrini2, Fiorella Acquaotta3, Simona Fratianni3, Franco Merletti4, Milena Maule4, Lorenzo Richiardi4. 1. Cancer Epidemiology Unit, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin and CPO-Piemonte, Torino Via Santena 7, 10126, Italy. Electronic address: giovenale.moirano@edu.unito.it. 2. Department of Public Health, Environments and Society, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK. 3. Department of Earth Sciences, University of Turin, via Valperga Caluso 35, 10125 Torino, Italy; Centro interdipartimentale sui rischi naturali in ambiente montano e collinare NatRisk, via Leonardo da Vinci 44, 10095 Grugliasco, TO, Italy. 4. Cancer Epidemiology Unit, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin and CPO-Piemonte, Torino Via Santena 7, 10126, Italy.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Changes in climatic conditions are hypothesized to play a role in the increasing number of West Nile Virus (WNV) outbreaks observed in Europe in recent years. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to investigate the association between WNV infection and climatic parameters recorded in the 8 weeks before the diagnosis in Northern Italy. METHODS: We collected epidemiological data about new infected cases for the period 2010-2015 from the European Center for Disease Control and Prevention (ECDC) and meteorological data from 25 stations throughout the study area. Analyses were performed using a conditional Poisson regression with a time-stratified case-crossover design, specifically modified to account for seasonal variations. Exposures included weekly average of maximum temperatures, weekly average of mean temperatures, weekly average of minimum temperatures and weekly total precipitation. RESULTS: We found an association between incidence of WNV infection and temperatures recorded 5-6 weeks before diagnosis (Incidence Rate Ratio (IRR) for 1 °C increase in maximum temperatures at lag 6: 1.11; 95% CI 1.01-1.20). Increased weekly total precipitation, recorded 1-4 weeks before diagnosis, were associated with higher incidence of WNV infection, particularly for precipitation recorded 2 weeks before diagnosis (IRR for 5 mm increase of cumulative precipitation at lag 2: 1.16; 95% CI 1.08-1.25). CONCLUSIONS: Increased precipitation and temperatures might have a lagged direct effect on the incidence of WNV infection. Climatic parameters may be useful for detecting areas and periods of the year potentially characterized by a higher incidence of WNV infection.
BACKGROUND: Changes in climatic conditions are hypothesized to play a role in the increasing number of West Nile Virus (WNV) outbreaks observed in Europe in recent years. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to investigate the association between WNV infection and climatic parameters recorded in the 8 weeks before the diagnosis in Northern Italy. METHODS: We collected epidemiological data about new infected cases for the period 2010-2015 from the European Center for Disease Control and Prevention (ECDC) and meteorological data from 25 stations throughout the study area. Analyses were performed using a conditional Poisson regression with a time-stratified case-crossover design, specifically modified to account for seasonal variations. Exposures included weekly average of maximum temperatures, weekly average of mean temperatures, weekly average of minimum temperatures and weekly total precipitation. RESULTS: We found an association between incidence of WNV infection and temperatures recorded 5-6 weeks before diagnosis (Incidence Rate Ratio (IRR) for 1 °C increase in maximum temperatures at lag 6: 1.11; 95% CI 1.01-1.20). Increased weekly total precipitation, recorded 1-4 weeks before diagnosis, were associated with higher incidence of WNV infection, particularly for precipitation recorded 2 weeks before diagnosis (IRR for 5 mm increase of cumulative precipitation at lag 2: 1.16; 95% CI 1.08-1.25). CONCLUSIONS: Increased precipitation and temperatures might have a lagged direct effect on the incidence of WNV infection. Climatic parameters may be useful for detecting areas and periods of the year potentially characterized by a higher incidence of WNV infection.
Authors: Tommaso Lupia; Valentina Libanore; Silvia Corcione; Valentina Fornari; Barbara Rizzello; Roberta Bosio; Giacomo Stroffolini; Paolo Bigliano; Silvia Fontana; Francesca Patti; Maria Teresa Brusa; Maria Degioanni; Erika Concialdi; Anna Sara Navazio; Maurizio Penna; Francesco Giuseppe De Rosa Journal: Trop Med Infect Dis Date: 2022-08-16
Authors: Maria Mavrouli; Spyridon Mavroulis; Efthymios Lekkas; Athanassios Tsakris Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2022-08-17 Impact factor: 4.614
Authors: Giuseppe Giglia; Giulia Mencattelli; Elvio Lepri; Gianfilippo Agliani; Marco Gobbi; Andrea Gröne; Judith M A van den Brand; Giovanni Savini; Maria Teresa Mandara Journal: Viruses Date: 2022-09-09 Impact factor: 5.818