[afro-nets] Climate Change May Affect RSV Respiratory Infection

[Lauren Pincus <lauren@healthnet.org>]

Climate Change May Affect Length of RSV Respiratory Infection
Season
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Article Date: 10 Feb 2006 - 13:00pm (UK)

Rising global temperatures over the past two decades may be re-
sponsible for a shortened season of a serious respiratory ill-
ness in the United Kingdom, according to an article in the March
1 issue of Clinical Infectious Diseases, now available online.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) can cause particularly severe
lower respiratory tract infections in infants and young chil-
dren, sometimes resulting in pneumonia. Like the flu, RSV has a
seasonal pattern, infecting the majority of people during autumn
and winter.

Author Gavin Donaldson, PhD, of the University College London,
examined the relationship between the RSV season and the rise in
temperatures in central England from 1981 to 2004, and found
that the RSV season ended earlier each year as temperatures in-
creased. The illness season measured by laboratory isolation of
RSV and emergency room admissions due to RSV-was shortened by
about three weeks per degree Celsius rise in annual mean daily
temperature.

The link between respiratory disease and temperature is mysteri-
ous. "People know that there is a relationship, but don't know
what's causing it," Dr. Donaldson said. Staying indoors in
chilly weather might result in a higher infection rate due to
our close proximity to other people. Cold air might enhance vi-
ruses' survival or affect our bodies' ability to fight off in-
fection. "It is known that as the temperature gets colder, a lot
of respiratory infections increase... There must be some link
with the temperature or the season to explain precisely why this
is happening," Dr. Donaldson said. However, he added, "there's
no clear evidence of what the mechanism is, nor has it been
shown that other respiratory illness seasons, like influenza's,
have shortened due to climate change."

Global warming seems to be increasing the number of infections
from other organisms, such as those that lead to food poisoning,
like Salmonella and Campylobacter, Dr. Donaldson said. If global
temperatures continue to rise, scientists may yet learn how much
of a correlation exists between a changing climate and our
health.

Founded in 1979, Clinical Infectious Diseases publishes clinical
articles twice monthly in a variety of areas of infectious dis-
ease, and is one of the most highly regarded journals in this
specialty. It is published under the auspices of the Infectious
Diseases Society of America (IDSA). Based in Alexandria, Vir-
ginia, IDSA is a professional society representing about 8,000
physicians and scientists who specialize in infectious diseases.

Infectious Diseases Society of America http://www.idsociety.org