Dataset Information

Local spatial and temporal processes of influenza in Pennsylvania, USA: 2003-2009.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Influenza is a contagious respiratory disease responsible for annual seasonal epidemics in temperate climates. An understanding of how influenza spreads geographically and temporally within regions could result in improved public health prevention programs. The purpose of this study was to summarize the spatial and temporal spread of influenza using data obtained from the Pennsylvania Department of Health's influenza surveillance system.

Methodology and findings

We evaluated the spatial and temporal patterns of laboratory-confirmed influenza cases in Pennsylvania, United States from six influenza seasons (2003-2009). Using a test of spatial autocorrelation, local clusters of elevated risk were identified in the South Central region of the state. Multivariable logistic regression indicated that lower monthly precipitation levels during the influenza season (OR?=?0.52, 95% CI: 0.28, 0.94), fewer residents over age 64 (OR?=?0.27, 95% CI: 0.10, 0.73) and fewer residents with more than a high school education (OR?=?0.76, 95% CI: 0.61, 0.95) were significantly associated with membership in this cluster. In addition, time series analysis revealed a temporal lag in the peak timing of the influenza B epidemic compared to the influenza A epidemic.

Conclusions

These findings illustrate a distinct spatial cluster of cases in the South Central region of Pennsylvania. Further examination of the regional transmission dynamics within these clusters may be useful in planning public health influenza prevention programs.

SUBMITTER: Stark JH

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3314628 | biostudies-literature | 2012

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Local spatial and temporal processes of influenza in Pennsylvania, USA: 2003-2009.

Stark James H JH Sharma Ravi R Ostroff Stephen S Cummings Derek A T DA Ermentrout Bard B Stebbins Samuel S Burke Donald S DS Wisniewski Stephen R SR

PloS one 20120328 3

<h4>Background</h4>Influenza is a contagious respiratory disease responsible for annual seasonal epidemics in temperate climates. An understanding of how influenza spreads geographically and temporally within regions could result in improved public health prevention programs. The purpose of this study was to summarize the spatial and temporal spread of influenza using data obtained from the Pennsylvania Department of Health's influenza surveillance system.<h4>Methodology and findings</h4>We eval ...[more]

PMID: 22470544

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Project description:BackgroundHighly refined surveillance data on the 2009 A/H1N1 influenza pandemic are crucial to quantify the spatial and temporal characteristics of the pandemic. There is little information about the spatial-temporal dynamics of pandemic influenza in South America. Here we provide a quantitative description of the age-specific morbidity pandemic patterns across administrative areas of Peru.MethodsWe used daily cases of influenza-like-illness, tests for A/H1N1 influenza virus infections, and laboratory-confirmed A/H1N1 influenza cases reported to the epidemiological surveillance system of Peru's Ministry of Health from May 1 to December 31, 2009. We analyzed the geographic spread of the pandemic waves and their association with the winter school vacation period, demographic factors, and absolute humidity. We also estimated the reproduction number and quantified the association between the winter school vacation period and the age distribution of cases.ResultsThe national pandemic curve revealed a bimodal winter pandemic wave, with the first peak limited to school age children in the Lima metropolitan area, and the second peak more geographically widespread. The reproduction number was estimated at 1.6-2.2 for the Lima metropolitan area and 1.3-1.5 in the rest of Peru. We found a significant association between the timing of the school vacation period and changes in the age distribution of cases, while earlier pandemic onset was correlated with large population size. By contrast there was no association between pandemic dynamics and absolute humidity.ConclusionsOur results indicate substantial spatial variation in pandemic patterns across Peru, with two pandemic waves of varying timing and impact by age and region. Moreover, the Peru data suggest a hierarchical transmission pattern of pandemic influenza A/H1N1 driven by large population centers. The higher reproduction number of the first pandemic wave could be explained by high contact rates among school-age children, the age group most affected during this early wave.

Dataset Information

Local spatial and temporal processes of influenza in Pennsylvania, USA: 2003-2009.

Background

Methodology and findings

Conclusions

Publications

Local spatial and temporal processes of influenza in Pennsylvania, USA: 2003-2009.

Similar Datasets

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