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Manageiro V, Borges V, Rodrigues R, Bettencourt C, Silva C, Gomes JP, Gonçalves P. Recurrence, Microevolution, and Spatiotemporal Dynamics of Legionella pneumophila Sequence Type 1905, Portugal, 2014-2022. Emerg Infect Dis 2024; 30:1022-1025. [PMID: 38666647 PMCID: PMC11060437 DOI: 10.3201/eid3005.231383] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/02/2024] Open
Abstract
We investigated molecular evolution and spatiotemporal dynamics of atypical Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 sequence type 1905 and determined its long-term persistence and linkage to human disease in dispersed locations, far beyond the large 2014 outbreak epicenter in Portugal. Our finding highlights the need for public health interventions to prevent further disease spread.
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Fischer FB, Saucy A, Vienneau D, Hattendorf J, Fanderl J, de Hoogh K, Mäusezahl D. Impacts of weather and air pollution on Legionnaires' disease in Switzerland: A national case-crossover study. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 233:116327. [PMID: 37354934 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.116327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2022] [Revised: 05/03/2023] [Accepted: 06/02/2023] [Indexed: 06/26/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The number of reported cases of Legionnaires' disease (LD) has risen markedly in Switzerland (6.5/100,000 inhabitants in 2021) and abroad over the last decade. Legionella, the causative agent of LD, are ubiquitous in the environment. Therefore, environmental changes can affect the incidence of LD, for example by increasing bacterial concentrations in the environment or by facilitating transmission. OBJECTIVES The aim of this study is to understand the environmental determinants, in particular weather conditions, for the regional and seasonal distribution of LD in Switzerland. METHODS We conducted a series of analyses based on the Swiss LD notification data from 2017 to 2021. First, we used a descriptive and hotspot analysis to map LD cases and identify regional clusters. Second, we applied an ecological model to identify environmental determinants on case frequency at the district level. Third, we applied a case-crossover design using distributed lag non-linear models to identify short-term associations between seven weather variables and LD occurrence. Lastly, we performed a sensitivity analysis for the case-crossover design including NO2 levels available for the year 2019. RESULTS Canton Ticino in southern Switzerland was identified as a hotspot in the cluster analysis, with a standardised notification rate of 14.3 cases/100,000 inhabitants (CI: 12.6, 16.0). The strongest association with LD frequency in the ecological model was found for large-scale factors such as weather and air pollution. The case-crossover study confirmed the strong association of elevated daily mean temperature (OR 2.83; CI: 1.70, 4.70) and mean daily vapour pressure (OR: 1.52, CI: 1.15, 2.01) 6-14 days before LD occurrence. DISCUSSION Our analyses showed an influence of weather with a specific temporal pattern before the onset of LD, which may provide insights into the effect mechanism. The relationship between air pollution and LD and the interplay with weather should be further investigated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabienne B Fischer
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Allschwil, Switzerland; University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Apolline Saucy
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Danielle Vienneau
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Allschwil, Switzerland; University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Jan Hattendorf
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Allschwil, Switzerland; University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Julia Fanderl
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Allschwil, Switzerland; University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Kees de Hoogh
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Allschwil, Switzerland; University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Daniel Mäusezahl
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Allschwil, Switzerland; University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
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Dos Santos-Silva JC, Potgieter-Vermaak S, Medeiros SHW, da Silva LV, Ferreira DV, Moreira CAB, de Souza Zorzenão PC, Pauliquevis T, Godoi AFL, de Souza RAF, Yamamoto CI, Godoi RHM. A new strategy for risk assessment of PM 2.5-bound elements by considering the influence of wind regimes. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 872:162131. [PMID: 36773898 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2022] [Revised: 01/18/2023] [Accepted: 02/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
For regulatory purposes, air pollution has been reduced to management of air quality control regions (AQCR), by inventorying pollution sources and identifying the receptors significantly affected. However, beyond being source-dependent, particulate matter can be physically and chemically altered by factors and elements of climate during transport, as they act as local environmental constraints, indirectly modulating the adverse effects of particles on the environment and human health. This case study, at an industrial site in a Brazilian coastal city - Joinville, combines different methodologies to integrate atmospheric dynamics in a strategic risk assessment approach whereby the influence of different wind regimes on environmental and health risks of exposure to PM2.5-bound elements, are analysed. Although Joinville AQCR has been prone to stagnation/recirculation events, distinctly different horizontal wind circulation patterns indicate two airsheds within the region. The two sampling sites mirrored these two conditions and as a result we report different PM2.5 mass concentrations, chemical profiles, geo-accumulation, and ecological and human health risks. In addition, feedback mechanisms between the airsheds seem to aggravate the air quality and its effects even under good ventilation conditions. Recognizably, the risks associated with Co, Pb, Cu, Ni, Mn, and Zn loadings were extremely high for the environment as well as being the main contributors to elevated non-carcinogenic risks. Meanwhile, higher carcinogenic risks occurred during stagnation/recirculation conditions, with Cr as the major threat. These results highlight the importance of integrating local airshed characteristics into the risk assessment of PM2.5-bound elements since they can aggravate air pollution leading to different risks at a granular scale. This new approach to risk assessment can be employed in any city's longer-term development plan since it provides public authorities with a strategic perspective on incorporating environmental constraints into urban growth planning and development zoning regulations.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sanja Potgieter-Vermaak
- Ecology & Environment Research Centre, Department of Natural Science, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester M1 5GD, United Kingdom; Molecular Science Institute, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Sandra Helena Westrupp Medeiros
- Department of Environmental and Sanitary Engineering, University of the Region of Joinville, Joinville, Santa Catarina, Brazil
| | - Luiz Vitor da Silva
- Department of Environmental and Sanitary Engineering, University of the Region of Joinville, Joinville, Santa Catarina, Brazil
| | - Danielli Ventura Ferreira
- Department of Environmental and Sanitary Engineering, University of the Region of Joinville, Joinville, Santa Catarina, Brazil
| | | | | | - Theotonio Pauliquevis
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Federal University of São Paulo, Diadema, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | | | - Carlos Itsuo Yamamoto
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Ricardo Henrique Moreton Godoi
- Postgraduate Program in Water Resources and Environmental Engineering, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil; Department of Environmental Engineering, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil.
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Motlogeloa O, Fitchett JM. Climate and human health: a review of publication trends in the International Journal of Biometeorology. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOMETEOROLOGY 2023:10.1007/s00484-023-02466-8. [PMID: 37129619 PMCID: PMC10153057 DOI: 10.1007/s00484-023-02466-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2022] [Revised: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 03/27/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
The climate-health nexus is well documented in the field of biometeorology. Since its inception, Biometeorology has in many ways become the umbrella under which much of this collaborative research has been conducted. Whilst a range of review papers have considered the development of biometeorological research and its coverage in this journal, and a few have reviewed the literature on specific diseases, none have focused on the sub-field of climate and health as a whole. Since its first issue in 1957, the International Journal of Biometeorology has published a total of 2183 papers that broadly consider human health and its relationship with climate. In this review, we identify a total of 180 (8.3%, n = 2183) of these papers that specifically focus on the intersection between meteorological variables and specific, named diagnosable diseases, and explore the publication trends thereof. The number of publications on climate and health in the journal increases considerably since 2011. The largest number of publications on the topic was in 2017 (18) followed by 2021 (17). Of the 180 studies conducted, respiratory diseases accounted for 37.2% of the publications, cardiovascular disease 17%, and cerebrovascular disease 11.1%. The literature on climate and health in the journal is dominated by studies from the global North, with a particular focus on Asia and Europe. Only 2.2% and 8.3% of these studies explore empirical evidence from the African continent and South America respectively. These findings highlight the importance of continued research on climate and human health, especially in low- and lower-middle-income countries, the populations of which are more vulnerable to climate-sensitive illnesses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ogone Motlogeloa
- School of Geography, Archaeology and Environmental Studies, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Jennifer M Fitchett
- School of Geography, Archaeology and Environmental Studies, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
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5
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Zhao Z, Zhou Z, Russo A, Du H, Xiang J, Zhang J, Zhou C. Impact of meteorological conditions at multiple scales on ozone concentration in the Yangtze River Delta. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2021; 28:62991-63007. [PMID: 34218370 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-15160-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2020] [Accepted: 06/23/2021] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
Tropospheric ozone is known to have adverse effects on human health. Ozone pollution events are often associated with specific atmospheric circulation conditions. Therefore, studying the relationship between atmospheric circulation and ozone is particularly important for early warning and forecasting of ozone pollution events. Focusing on the Yangtze River Delta region, particularly in four important large industrial cities (Xuzhou, Nanjing, Shanghai, and Hangzhou) in the Yangtze River Delta, the T-mode objective classification method was applied to classify the weather circulation that mainly affects the Yangtze River Delta region into nine types. Local wind fields for the four industrial cities were classified according to their propensity for ventilation, stagnation, and recirculation based on the Allwine and Whiteman method. Based on the analysis of large-scale atmospheric circulation, we concluded that certain circulation patterns correspond to excessive ozone concentrations, while other circulation patterns correspond to good air quality. Moreover, ozone pollution was not closely related to local regional transmission. The importance of high temperatures in potentiating ozone pollution was also identified in the study area, whereas the effect of relative humidity was negligible. Finally, the importance of the different scale atmospheric motions was analyzed by studying two specific ozone pollution events in Xuzhou area (March, 2019) and Nanjing area (July-August, 2017). This analysis was complemented by HYSPLIT model's outputs to simulate the pollutant diffusion path. Regarding the first episode, ozone concentration is often closely related to the slowly approaching thermal high-pressure system. In the second episode, local transmission had little effect on the generation and spread of ozone pollution. Furthermore, and comparing the circulation conditions with local meteorological factors, it was found that the increase in ozone concentration was often accompanied by higher temperature, and the response to humidity was not clear.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zezheng Zhao
- National University of Defense Technology, College of Meteorology and Oceanology, Nanjing, 211101, China
| | - Zeming Zhou
- National University of Defense Technology, College of Meteorology and Oceanology, Nanjing, 211101, China
| | - Ana Russo
- Instituto Dom Luíz, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, Edifício C1, Piso 1, 1749-016, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Huadong Du
- National University of Defense Technology, College of Meteorology and Oceanology, Nanjing, 211101, China
| | - Jie Xiang
- National University of Defense Technology, College of Meteorology and Oceanology, Nanjing, 211101, China
| | - Jiping Zhang
- Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, School of Physics, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Chengjun Zhou
- National University of Defense Technology, College of Meteorology and Oceanology, Nanjing, 211101, China.
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Ângelo A, Barata J. Digital transformation of legionella-safe cooling towers: an ecosystem design approach. JOURNAL OF FACILITIES MANAGEMENT 2021. [DOI: 10.1108/jfm-12-2020-0100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Purpose
Legionnaires’ disease is a major threat to public health. Solutions to deal with this problem are usually siloed and not entirely effective. This paper aims to model the information requirements of legionella-safe cooling towers in the era of Industry 4.0.
Design/methodology/approach
A year-long design science research was conducted in a cooling tower producer for heavy industries. The project started with a bibliometric analysis and literature review of legionella in cooling towers. Goal modeling techniques are then used to identify the requirements for digital transformation.
Findings
The improvement of legionella prevention, detection and outbreak response in digitally enabled cooling tower should involve different stakeholders. Digital twins and blockchain are disruptive technologies that can transform the cooling tower industry.
Originality/value
For theory, this study revises the most recent advances in legionella protection. Legionella-safe systems must be prepared to anticipate, monitor and immediate alert in case of an outbreak. For practice, this paper presents a distributed and digital architecture for cooling tower safety. However, technology is only a part of outbreak management solutions, requiring trustworthy conditions and real-time communication among stakeholders.
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Masaka E, Reed S, Davidson M, Oosthuizen J. Opportunistic Premise Plumbing Pathogens. A Potential Health Risk in Water Mist Systems Used as a Cooling Intervention. Pathogens 2021; 10:pathogens10040462. [PMID: 33921277 PMCID: PMC8068904 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10040462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2021] [Revised: 03/29/2021] [Accepted: 04/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Water mist systems (WMS) are used for evaporative cooling in public areas. The health risks associated with their colonization by opportunistic premise plumbing pathogens (OPPPs) is not well understood. To advance the understanding of the potential health risk of OPPPs in WMS, biofilm, water and bioaerosol samples (n = 90) from ten (10) WMS in Australia were collected and analyzed by culture and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methods to detect the occurrence of five representative OPPPs: Legionella pneumophila, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Mycobacterium avium, Naegleria fowleri and Acanthamoeba. P. aeruginosa (44%, n = 90) occurred more frequently in samples, followed by L. pneumophila serogroup (Sg) 2–14 (18%, n = 90) and L. pneumophila Sg 1 (6%, n = 90). A negative correlation between OPPP occurrence and residual free chlorine was observed except with Acanthamoeba, rs (30) = 0.067, p > 0.05. All detected OPPPs were positively correlated with total dissolved solids (TDS) except with Acanthamoeba. Biofilms contained higher concentrations of L. pneumophila Sg 2–14 (1000–3000 CFU/mL) than water samples (0–100 CFU/mL). This study suggests that WMS can be colonized by OPPPs and are a potential health risk if OPPP contaminated aerosols get released into ambient atmospheres.
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8
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Dillon CF, Dillon MB. Multi-Scale Airborne Infectious Disease Transmission. Appl Environ Microbiol 2021; 87:AEM.02314-20. [PMID: 33277266 PMCID: PMC7851691 DOI: 10.1128/aem.02314-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Airborne disease transmission is central to many scientific disciplines including agriculture, veterinary biosafety, medicine, and public health. Legal and regulatory standards are in place to prevent agricultural, nosocomial, and community airborne disease transmission. However, the overall importance of the airborne pathway is underappreciated, e.g.,, US National Library of Medicine's Medical Subjects Headings (MESH) thesaurus lacks an airborne disease transmission indexing term. This has practical consequences as airborne precautions to control epidemic disease spread may not be taken when airborne transmission is important, but unrecognized. Publishing clearer practical methodological guidelines for surveillance studies and disease outbreak evaluations could help address this situation.To inform future work, this paper highlights selected, well-established airborne transmission events - largely cases replicated in multiple, independently conducted scientific studies. Methodologies include field experiments, modeling, epidemiology studies, disease outbreak investigations and mitigation studies. Collectively, this literature demonstrates that airborne viruses, bacteria, and fungal pathogens have the capability to cause disease in plants, animals, and humans over multiple distances - from near range (< 5 m) to continental (> 500 km) in scale. The plausibility and implications of undetected airborne disease transmission are discussed, including the notable underreporting of disease burden for several airborne transmitted diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Michael B Dillon
- Atmospheric, Earth, and Energy Division, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Livermore, California, USA 94551
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9
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Faccini M, Russo AG, Bonini M, Tunesi S, Murtas R, Sandrini M, Senatore S, Lamberti A, Ciconali G, Cammarata S, Barrese E, Ceriotti V, Vitaliti S, Foti M, Gentili G, Graziano E, Panciroli E, Bosio M, Gramegna M, Cereda D, Perno CF, Mazzola E, Campisi D, Aulicino G, Castaldi S, Girolamo A, Caporali MG, Scaturro M, Rota MC, Ricci ML. Large community-acquired Legionnaires' disease outbreak caused by Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1, Italy, July to August 2018. Euro Surveill 2020; 25:1900523. [PMID: 32458793 PMCID: PMC7262491 DOI: 10.2807/1560-7917.es.2020.25.20.1900523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2019] [Accepted: 12/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
In July 2018, a large outbreak of Legionnaires' disease (LD) caused by Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 (Lp1) occurred in Bresso, Italy. Fifty-two cases were diagnosed, including five deaths. We performed an epidemiological investigation and prepared a map of the places cases visited during the incubation period. All sites identified as potential sources were investigated and sampled. Association between heavy rainfall and LD cases was evaluated in a case-crossover study. We also performed a case-control study and an aerosol dispersion investigation model. Lp1 was isolated from 22 of 598 analysed water samples; four clinical isolates were typed using monoclonal antibodies and sequence-based typing. Four Lp1 human strains were ST23, of which two were Philadelphia and two were France-Allentown subgroup. Lp1 ST23 France-Allentown was isolated only from a public fountain. In the case-crossover study, extreme precipitation 5-6 days before symptom onset was associated with increased LD risk. The aerosol dispersion model showed that the fountain matched the case distribution best. The case-control study demonstrated a significant eightfold increase in risk for cases residing near the public fountain. The three studies and the matching of clinical and environmental Lp1 strains identified the fountain as the source responsible for the epidemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marino Faccini
- Agency for Health Protection of Metropolitan Area of Milan (ATS), Milan, Italy
- These authors contributed equally to this article and share first authorship
| | - Antonio Giampiero Russo
- Agency for Health Protection of Metropolitan Area of Milan (ATS), Milan, Italy
- These authors contributed equally to this article and share first authorship
| | - Maira Bonini
- Agency for Health Protection of Metropolitan Area of Milan (ATS), Milan, Italy
- These authors contributed equally to this article and share first authorship
| | - Sara Tunesi
- Agency for Health Protection of Metropolitan Area of Milan (ATS), Milan, Italy
| | - Rossella Murtas
- Agency for Health Protection of Metropolitan Area of Milan (ATS), Milan, Italy
| | - Monica Sandrini
- Agency for Health Protection of Metropolitan Area of Milan (ATS), Milan, Italy
| | - Sabrina Senatore
- Agency for Health Protection of Metropolitan Area of Milan (ATS), Milan, Italy
| | - Anna Lamberti
- Agency for Health Protection of Metropolitan Area of Milan (ATS), Milan, Italy
| | - Giorgio Ciconali
- Agency for Health Protection of Metropolitan Area of Milan (ATS), Milan, Italy
| | - Serafina Cammarata
- Agency for Health Protection of Metropolitan Area of Milan (ATS), Milan, Italy
| | - Eros Barrese
- Agency for Health Protection of Metropolitan Area of Milan (ATS), Milan, Italy
| | - Valentina Ceriotti
- Agency for Health Protection of Metropolitan Area of Milan (ATS), Milan, Italy
| | - Sonia Vitaliti
- Agency for Health Protection of Metropolitan Area of Milan (ATS), Milan, Italy
| | - Marina Foti
- Agency for Health Protection of Metropolitan Area of Milan (ATS), Milan, Italy
| | - Gabriella Gentili
- Agency for Health Protection of Metropolitan Area of Milan (ATS), Milan, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Graziano
- Agency for Health Protection of Metropolitan Area of Milan (ATS), Milan, Italy
| | - Emerico Panciroli
- Agency for Health Protection of Metropolitan Area of Milan (ATS), Milan, Italy
| | - Marco Bosio
- Agency for Health Protection of Metropolitan Area of Milan (ATS), Milan, Italy
| | - Maria Gramegna
- Direzione Generale Welfare, Unità Organizzativa Prevenzione, Lombardy Region, Milan, Italy
| | - Danilo Cereda
- Direzione Generale Welfare, Unità Organizzativa Prevenzione, Lombardy Region, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Ester Mazzola
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Hospital Niguarda, Milan, Italy
| | - Daniela Campisi
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Hospital Niguarda, Milan, Italy
| | - Gianuario Aulicino
- Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, Post Graduate School in Public Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Silvana Castaldi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, Post Graduate School in Public Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
- Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Antonietta Girolamo
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Maria Scaturro
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Cristina Rota
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Luisa Ricci
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
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Short-term associations between Legionnaires' disease incidence and meteorological variables in Belgium, 2011-2019. Epidemiol Infect 2020; 148:e150. [PMID: 32345387 PMCID: PMC7374801 DOI: 10.1017/s0950268820000886] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
The number of reported cases with Legionnaires' disease (LD) is increasing in Belgium. Previous studies have investigated the associations between LD incidence and meteorological factors, but the Belgian data remained unexplored. We investigated data collected between 2011 and 2019. Daily exposure data on temperature, relative humidity, precipitation and wind speed was obtained from the Royal Meteorological Institute for 29 weather stations. Case data were collected from the national reference centre and through mandatory notification. Daily case and exposure data were aggregated by province. We conducted a time-stratified case-crossover study. The 'at risk' period was defined as 10 to 2 days prior to disease onset. The corresponding days in the other study years were selected as referents. We fitted separate conditional Poisson models for each day in the 'at risk' period and a distributed lag non-linear model (DLNM) which fitted all data in one model. LD incidence showed a yearly peak in August and September. A total of 614 cases were included. Given seasonality, a sequence of precipitation, followed by high relative humidity and low wind speed showed a statistically significant association with the number of cases 6 to 4 days later. We discussed the advantages of DLNM in this context.
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11
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Rohrer M, Flahault A, Stoffel M. Peaks of Fine Particulate Matter May Modulate the Spreading and Virulence of COVID-19. EARTH SYSTEMS AND ENVIRONMENT 2020; 4:789-796. [PMID: 34723075 PMCID: PMC7679238 DOI: 10.1007/s41748-020-00184-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2020] [Accepted: 11/04/2020] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
A probe of a patient, seeking help in an emergency ward of a French hospital in late December 2019 because of Influenza like symptoms, was retrospectively tested positive to COVID-19. Despite the early appearance of the virus in Europe, the prevalence and virulence appeared to be low for several weeks, before the spread and severity of symptoms increased exponentially, yet with marked spatial and temporal differences. Here, we compare the possible linkages between peaks of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and the sudden, explosive increase of hospitalizations and mortality rates in the Swiss Canton of Ticino, and the Greater Paris and London regions. We argue that these peaks of fine particulate matter are primarily occurring during thermal inversion of the boundary layer of the atmosphere. We also discuss the influence of Saharan dust intrusions on the COVID-19 outbreak observed in early 2020 on the Canary Islands. We deem it both reasonable and plausible that high PM2.5 concentrations-favored by air temperature inversions or Saharan dust intrusions-are not only modulating but even more so boosting severe outbreaks of COVID-19. Moreover, desert dust events-besides enhancing PM2.5 concentrations-can be a vector for fungal diseases, thereby exacerbating COVID-19 morbidity and mortality. We conclude that the overburdening of the health services and hospitals as well as the high over-mortality observed in various regions of Europe in spring 2020 may be linked to peaks of PM2.5 and likely particular weather situations that have favored the spread and enhanced the virulence of the virus. In the future, we recommended to monitor not only the prevalence of the virus, but also to consider the occurrence of weather situations that can lead to sudden, very explosive COVID-19 outbreaks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mario Rohrer
- Meteodat GmbH, 8903 Birmensdorf ZH, Switzerland
- Climate Change Impacts and Risks in the Anthropocene, Institute for Environmental Sciences (ISE), University of Geneva, 1205 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Antoine Flahault
- Institute of Global Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, 1202 Geneva, Switzerland
- Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+), 8001 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Markus Stoffel
- Climate Change Impacts and Risks in the Anthropocene, Institute for Environmental Sciences (ISE), University of Geneva, 1205 Geneva, Switzerland
- Department F.-A. Forel for Environmental and Aquatic Sciences, University of Geneva, 1205 Geneva, Switzerland
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Geneva, 1205 Geneva, Switzerland
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12
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Villanueva D, Schepanski K. Investigation of atmospheric conditions fostering the spreading of legionnaires' disease in outbreaks related to cooling towers. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOMETEOROLOGY 2019; 63:1347-1356. [PMID: 31342243 DOI: 10.1007/s00484-019-01751-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2019] [Revised: 06/26/2019] [Accepted: 06/26/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Legionnaires' disease (LD) is a severe lung infection caused by the bacteria Legionella pneumophila which is usually associated with water managing installations like cooling towers. Several outbreaks of LD have been linked to individual sources of bioaerosol in the past. However, the transmission pathways as well as the influence of meteorological factors in the spreading of such bioaerosols remain unclear. Using the meteorological data near 12 LD outbreaks in Europe for the period 2000-2016, the correlation between key meteorological factors and the occurrence of LD was assessed. Temperature, humidity, atmospheric pressure, wind speed, precipitation, cloud cover and, for the first time, fog occurrence were included as potential risk factors. It was found that the occurrence of fog was related to four of the LD outbreaks, suggesting that the presence of fog droplets and/or the thermal inversions associated with fog may play a role in the disease spreading. This finding can contribute to outbreak investigations and to the prevention of future outbreaks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diego Villanueva
- Leibniz Institute for Tropospheric Research, Permoser Str. 15, 04318, Leipzig, Germany.
| | - Kerstin Schepanski
- Leibniz Institute for Tropospheric Research, Permoser Str. 15, 04318, Leipzig, Germany
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