Individual cases of infectious diseases that occurred in England and Wales between 19 were diagnosed at a local laboratory or national reference laboratory level. The authors of the current study extracted respiratory virus disease data from the Second-Generation Surveillance System (SGSS) database, which is used for routine surveillance in England and Wales. Apart from these factors, low vitamin D levels due to low sunlight exposure and changes in nasal mucosal physiology due to extremes in exterior and interior temperatures may increase susceptibility to respiratory infections. Winter also results in behavioral changes, like more time spent indoors and in close proximity with other people, which may influence infection rates. The relative humidity is higher in winter and may thus encourage viral transmission. Sunlight and ultraviolet (UV) exposure, for example, affects the survival of viruses on surfaces. These include the effects of weather on virus survival, behavioral changes of people in winter months, and changes in people’s disease susceptibility. Several mechanisms have been proposed to explain the increased rate of respiratory infections during winter. A better understanding of the seasonal changes and infections may help in designing predictive models for COVID-19. A seasonal element is associated with the spread of respiratory infections. Respiratory infections, including CoVs, are more frequent from November to March in the northern hemisphere and April to August in the southern hemisphere. In the current coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the main strategies to limit SARS-CoV-2 infection and spread included closing air travel and travel across borders, case and contact tracing, isolation or quarantine measures, implementation of social distancing, increased use of facial masks and other protective equipment, practicing diligent disinfection procedures, and implementation of strict lockdown measures. Interestingly, the days that both of these infections started coincided with major national public holidays. SARS in 2002/2003 and SARS-CoV-2 in 2019/2020 infections started in cold dry winter seasons. Seven known coronaviruses infect humans and belong to Alphacoronaviruses and Betacoronaviruses, all of which are derived from animal sources. Image Credit: Dragana Gordic / CoronavirusesĬoronaviruses (CoVs) cause respiratory and gastrointestinal infections in a variety of animals including birds, reptiles, amphibians, and mammals. Study: Coronavirus seasonality, respiratory infections and weather. This study also provides information on the associations between weather parameters and seasonal coronavirus cases, which will contribute to the current understanding of the transmission of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). ![]() It is observed that coronavirus infections are more common in winter.Ī new study published in the journal BioMed Central Infectious Diseasesexamines the seasonality of respiratory infections in England and Wales. The survival of coronaviruses in the community is dictated by weather conditions. Shital Sarah Ahaley Ph.D Reviewed by Benedette Cuffari, M.Sc.
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