Climate variation and Ross River virus infection in Queensland: is there a difference between various geographical locations?

Abstract

To determine the impact of climate variation on the transmission of Ross River (RR) virus infection, a comparison study on the incidence of the disease and climate variability was conducted across different meteorological regions of Queensland over the period 1985-96. Two towns were selected from northern, central, southern coast and inland regions, respectively. The results showed that autumn was the season of highest incidence. At this time of the year, there were higher incidences of RR virus infection in coastal regions than in the inland region. The incidence of RR virus infection in autumn in the northern coast region was higher than that in central and southern coast region. There was also a difference in the incidence of the disease within each meteorological region, generally with a higher incidence in northern locations. Apart from other potential risk factors, the differences in rainfall, relative humidity and mean high tide were possible contributors to the variation in the incidence of RR virus infection in the above locations in Queensland.