Local variations in spatial synchrony of influenza epidemics.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Understanding the mechanism of influenza spread across multiple geographic scales is not complete. While the mechanism of dissemination across regions and states of the United States has been described, understanding the determinants of dissemination between counties has not been elucidated. The paucity of high resolution spatial-temporal influenza incidence data to evaluate disease structure is often not available.

Methodology and findings

We report on the underlying relationship between the spread of influenza and human movement between counties of one state. Significant synchrony in the timing of epidemics exists across the entire state and decay with distance (regional correlation=62%). Synchrony as a function of population size display evidence of hierarchica

SUBMITTER: Stark JH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3420894 | biostudies-literature | 2012

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature