Mechanistic insights into the effect of humidity on airborne influenza virus survival, transmission and incidence

Influenza incidence and seasonality, along with virus survival and transmission, appear to depend at least partly on humidity, and recent studies have suggested that absolute humidity (AH) is more important than relative humidity (RH) in modulating observed patterns. In this perspective article, we re-evaluate studies of influenza virus survival in aerosols, transmission in animal models and influenza incidence to show that the combination of temperature and RH is equally valid as AH as a predictor. Collinearity must be considered, as higher levels of AH are only possible at higher temperatures, where it is well established that virus decay is more rapid. In studies of incidence that employ meteorological…

• NO
  NIH Office of the Director

  Award: 1-DP2-A1112243
• DO
  Division of Chemical, Bioengineering, Environmental, and Transport Systems

  Award: 1438103