Reports outline legionnaire disease research from Center for Infections
2009 JUL 14 - (NewsRx.com) -- A report, 'Weather patterns and Legionnaires' disease: a meteorological study,' is newly published data in Epidemiology and Infection. According to recent research from London, the United Kingdom, "This study examined the impact of meteorological conditions on sporadic, community-acquired cases of Legionnaires' disease in U.K. and Wales (2003-2006), with reference to the 2006 increase in cases. A case-crossover methodology compared each case with self-controlled data using a conditional logistic regression analysis." "Effect modification by quarter and year was explored. In total, 674 cases were entered into the dataset and two meteorological variables were selected for study based on preliminary analyses: relative humidity during a case's incubation period, and temperature during the 10-14 weeks preceding onset. For the quarter July-September there was strong evidence to suggest a year, humidity and temperature interaction (Wald chi2=30.59, 3 d.f., p<0.0001)," wrote K.D. Ricketts and colleagues, Center for Infections. The researchers concluded: "These findings have implications for future case numbers and resource requirements." Ricketts and colleagues published their study in Epidemiology and Infection (Weather patterns and Legionnaires' disease: a meteorological study. Epidemiology and Infection, 2009;137(7):1003-12). For additional information, contact K.D. Ricketts, Centre for Infections Health Protection Agency, Respiratory and Systemic Infections Department, London, UK. Publisher contact information for the journal Epidemiology and Infection is: Cambridge University Press, 32 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10013-2473. Keywords: United Kingdom, London, Legionnaire Disease, Community-Acquired, Epidemiology, Legionella, Legionellosis. This article was prepared by World Disease Weekly editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2009, World Disease Weekly via NewsRx.com.
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