Weather and notified Campylobacter infections in temperate and sub-tropical regions of Australia: An ecological study

Abstract

Background The relationship between previous termweathernext term and food-borne diseases has been of great concern recently. However, the impact of previous termweathernext term variations on food-borne disease may vary in different areas with various geographic, previous termweathernext term and demographic characteristics. This study was designed to quantify the relationship between previous termweathernext term variables and previous termCampylobacter infectionsnext term 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 previous termCampylobacter infectionsnext term 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 previous termCampylobacter infectionnext term rates varied in the two cities. Conclusion previous termWeathernext term might have different effect on previous termCampylobacter infectionsnext term 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 previous terminfections.next term