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PLoS One. 2018 Sep 25;13(9):e0204337. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0204337. eCollection 2018.
Humidity as a non-pharmaceutical intervention for influenza A.
Reiman JM1, Das B1,2, Sindberg GM1, Urban MD3, Hammerlund MEM1, Lee HB4, Spring KM5, Lyman-Gingerich J6, Generous AR7, Koep TH8, Ewing K9, Lilja P10, Enders FT11, Ekker SC1,3, Huskins WC1,12, Fadel HJ13, Pierret C1,3,12.
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Abstract
Influenza is a global problem infecting 5-10% of adults and 20-30% of children annually. Non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) are attractive approaches to complement vaccination in the prevention and reduction of influenza. Strong cyclical reduction of absolute humidity has been associated with influenza outbreaks in temperate climates. This study tested the hypothesis that raising absolute humidity above seasonal lows would impact influenza virus survival and transmission in a key source of influenza virus distribution, a community school. Air samples and objects handled by students (e.g. blocks and markers) were collected from preschool classrooms. All samples were processed and PCR used to determine the presence of influenza virus and its amount. Additionally samples were tested for their ability to infect cells in cultures. We observed a significant reduction (p < 0.05) in the total number of influenza A virus positive samples (air and fomite) and viral genome copies upon humidification as compared to control rooms. This suggests the future potential of artificial humidification as a possible strategy to control influenza outbreaks in temperate climates. There were 2.3 times as many ILI cases in the control rooms compared to the humidified rooms, and whether there is a causal relationship, and its direction between the number of cases and levels of influenza virus in the rooms is not known. Additional research is required, but this is the first prospective study suggesting that exogenous humidification could serve as a scalable NPI for influenza or other viral outbreaks.
PMID: 30252890 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0204337
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Humidity as a non-pharmaceutical intervention for influenza A.
Reiman JM1, Das B1,2, Sindberg GM1, Urban MD3, Hammerlund MEM1, Lee HB4, Spring KM5, Lyman-Gingerich J6, Generous AR7, Koep TH8, Ewing K9, Lilja P10, Enders FT11, Ekker SC1,3, Huskins WC1,12, Fadel HJ13, Pierret C1,3,12.
Author information
Abstract
Influenza is a global problem infecting 5-10% of adults and 20-30% of children annually. Non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) are attractive approaches to complement vaccination in the prevention and reduction of influenza. Strong cyclical reduction of absolute humidity has been associated with influenza outbreaks in temperate climates. This study tested the hypothesis that raising absolute humidity above seasonal lows would impact influenza virus survival and transmission in a key source of influenza virus distribution, a community school. Air samples and objects handled by students (e.g. blocks and markers) were collected from preschool classrooms. All samples were processed and PCR used to determine the presence of influenza virus and its amount. Additionally samples were tested for their ability to infect cells in cultures. We observed a significant reduction (p < 0.05) in the total number of influenza A virus positive samples (air and fomite) and viral genome copies upon humidification as compared to control rooms. This suggests the future potential of artificial humidification as a possible strategy to control influenza outbreaks in temperate climates. There were 2.3 times as many ILI cases in the control rooms compared to the humidified rooms, and whether there is a causal relationship, and its direction between the number of cases and levels of influenza virus in the rooms is not known. Additional research is required, but this is the first prospective study suggesting that exogenous humidification could serve as a scalable NPI for influenza or other viral outbreaks.
PMID: 30252890 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0204337
Free full text