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Review
. 2012 Feb;2(1):90-5.
doi: 10.1016/j.coviro.2011.12.003. Epub 2012 Jan 4.

Environmental factors affecting the transmission of respiratory viruses

Natalie Pica  1 , Nicole M Bouvier
Affiliations
Review

Environmental factors affecting the transmission of respiratory viruses

Natalie Pica et al. Curr Opin Virol. 2012 Feb.

Abstract

Many viruses are capable of infecting the human respiratory tract to cause disease. These viruses display various transmission patterns among humans; however, they all share the ability to transmit from person to person, and their human transmissibility is influenced by the environment in which pathogen and host meet. This review aims to summarize recent and significant observations regarding the impact of environmental factors such as weather and climate, humidity, temperature, and airflow on the transmission of human respiratory viruses. Where possible, knowledge gaps that require further scientific study will be identified.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Environmental Modulation of Respiratory Virus Transmission. Transmission of respiratory viruses depends upon a complex chain of events occurring between infected and susceptible hosts, including naturally infected humans and experimentally inoculated animals like guinea pigs and ferrets. Environmental factors such as temperature, humidity, weather, and ventilation are hypothesized to have an impact on various aspects of the transmission chain.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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    2. This comprehensive review presents recent progress made in understanding the viral and environmental factors that impact upon efficient person-to-person transmission of influenza virus, as well as the clinical implications of these findings.

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