Influenza seasonality in Madagascar: the mysterious African free-runner.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The seasonal drivers of influenza activity remain debated in tropical settings where epidemics are not clearly phased. Antananarivo is a particularly interesting case study because it is in Madagascar, an island situated in the tropics and with quantifiable connectivity levels to other countries.

Objectives

We aimed at disentangling the role of environmental forcing and population fluxes on influenza seasonality in Madagascar.

Methods

We compiled weekly counts of laboratory-confirmed influenza-positive specimens for the period 2002 to 2012 collected in Antananarivo, with data available from sub-Saharan countries and countries contributing most foreign travelers to Madagascar. Daily climate indicators were compiled for the study period.

Results

Overal

SUBMITTER: Alonso WJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4415694 | biostudies-literature | 2015 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature