Thermal environment in the exacerbation of an influenza outbreak
case study in the region of Aveiro
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.14195/1647-7723_30-1_8Keywords:
Thermal environment, flu, thermal index, education for riskAbstract
Spanish flu was a pandemic that occurred between 1918 and 1919. It spread around the world in three waves, specifically in March 1918, August 1918 (most contagious), and January 1919, reaching all continents and causing tens millions of deaths.
The field of medical climatology is large and complex and has not yet led to a clear understanding of the effects of climate on diseases.
This study addresses how a cold thermal environment contributes the worsening of hospital arson appointments. The influence of meteorological parameters is investigated. A calendar year of records is used for both meteorological parameters and hospital cases.
The thermal index applied shows unequivocally that cold and very cold thermal environments are key to predicting exacerbations of the disease.
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