A recent study conducted by scientists at the University of Surrey suggests that climate change could be linked to increased prevalence of the common diarrhea illness campylobacteriosis in humans, as reported in MedicalXpress.
Campylobacteriosis is caused by bacteria from the Campylobacter genus, with the species C. jejuni and C. coli posing a significant risk to human health.
Transmission of Campylobacteriosis
The research focused on investigating the impact of elevated temperatures, longer days, and increased humidity - consequences of ongoing climate change - on the transmission of campylobacteriosis. The study's findings indicate a notable association between the warming planet and the incidence of this bacterial infection.
Dr. Giovanni Lo Iacono, Senior Lecturer in Biostatistics and Epidemiology at the University of Surrey, led the study. He emphasized the importance of understanding the environmental factors influencing the spread of diseases and highlighted the potential societal impacts of illnesses like campylobacteriosis.
Dr. Lo Iacono expressed that gaining insights into why weather conditions contribute to disease spread is a complex matter but crucial for predicting and managing outbreaks.
"We now have a detailed description of how the weather affects the disease, and the next step is to understand the why. Importantly, through our transparent and conceptually simple approach, we can now tell the risk of getting the disease when we know the recent local weather," Lo Iacono said in a statement.
The study involved analyzing data from approximately 1 million cases of campylobacteriosis in England and Wales over a 20-year period. A mathematical model was developed to compare this data with weather parameters provided by the Met Office.
The examination unveiled that occurrences of campylobacteriosis exhibited stability below temperatures of 8°C. Nevertheless, a notable surge in infection rates, approximately 1 case per million, was noted for each 5°C escalation in temperature, particularly in the temperature range of 8°C to 15°C.
The researchers also established a connection with humidity, observing heightened infection rates when air humidity levels ranged from 75% to 80%.
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Uptick in Illness Cases
The study also identified correlations between extended day lengths (surpassing 10 hours) and an uptick in illness cases. This relationship was further reinforced in the presence of high humidity levels. Conversely, rainfall and wind speed did not display a pronounced association with the dissemination of campylobacteriosis.
Dr. Lo Iacono inferred that the upswing in temperatures, augmented humidity, and prolonged day lengths are associated with the propagation of campylobacteriosis. The precise reasons underpinning this correlation remain incompletely understood, and potential factors may include the survival and proliferation of pathogenic bacteria in warm weather or alterations in individuals' behavior and social interactions during these periods.
"Environmental data can help us understand complex patterns in the spread of diseases. Having this knowledge is invaluable as it can help us identify areas vulnerable to potential outbreaks and ensure they have the resources available to treat people affected and to curb the spread of disease into other areas," Gordon Nichols, a visiting Professor at the University of Surrey, said in a statement.
The findings of the research team were published in the journal PLoS Computational Biology.
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