Climate Change and Human Health Literature Portal
BACKGROUND: The relationship between weather and food-borne diseases has been of great concern recently. However, the impact of weather variations on food-borne disease may vary in different areas with various geographic, weather and demographic characteristics. This study was designed to quantify the relationship between weather variables and Campylobacter infections in two Australian cities with different local climatic conditions. METHODS: An ecological-epidemiological study was conducted, using weekly disease surveillance data and meteorological data, over the period 1990-2005, to quantify the relationship between maximum and minimum temperatures, rainfall, relative humidity and notifications of Campylobacter infections in Adelaide, with a temperate Mediterranean climate, and Brisbane, with a sub-tropical climate. Spearman correlation and time-series adjusted Poisson regression analyses were performed taking into account seasonality, lag effects and long-term trends. RESULTS: The results indicate that weekly maximum and minimum temperatures were inversely associated with the weekly number of cases in Adelaide, but positively correlated with the number of cases in Brisbane, with relevant lagged effects. The effects of rainfall and relative humidity on Campylobacter infection rates varied in the two cities. CONCLUSION: Weather might have different effect on Campylobacter infections in different cities. Further studies are needed for a better understanding of these relationships for they may indicate epidemiologic factors important for control of these infections.
Resource Description
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Food Quality, Meteorological Factor, Precipitation, Temperature
- Food Quality, Meteorological Factor, Precipitation, Temperature: Livestock/Game Pathogen
- Food Quality, Meteorological Factor, Precipitation, Temperature: Variability
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Urban
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Non-United States
- Non-United States: Australasia
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Infectious Disease
- Infectious Disease: Foodborne Disease
- Foodborne Disease: Campylobacteriosis
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Research Article
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Vulnerable Population
- Vulnerable Population: Children