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Climate Change and Human Health Literature Portal The occurrence of melioidosis is related to different climatic conditions in distinct topographical areas of Taiwan

Climate Change and Human Health Literature Portal

Mu JJ, Cheng PY, Chen YS, Chen PS, Chen YL
2014
Epidemiology and Infection. 142 (2): 415-423

This study assessed the correlations between the incidence of melioidosis and rainfall, wind strength and wind direction in both the flat and hilly regions of Taiwan. Data from the melioidosis and climate databases from 2005 to 2011 were combined and analysed. With the inclusion of a lag time accounting for a possible incubation period for melioidosis, the daily rainfall and wind-speed data were correlated with the number of confirmed melioidosis cases. The incidence of melioidosis in the flat region was related to the wind speed (>19 m/s) and the specific angle (150°, 220°, 280°) of the wind direction. Rainfall is a common environmental factor that contributes to an increase in the incidence of melioidosis in both areas; however, the contribution of wind strength or wind direction to the spread of melioidosis was restricted to areas with specific topographical characteristics, such as hills.

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Resource Description

    Ecosystem Change, Meteorological Factor, Precipitation
    Ocean/Coastal
    Non-United States
    • Non-United States: Asia
    Infectious Disease
    • Infectious Disease: Waterborne Disease
      • Waterborne Disease: Melioidosis
      Waterborne Disease
    Research Article
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