Ecological Factors Linked to West Nile Virus Spread
Author Information
Author(s): Heidi E. Brown, James E. Childs, Maria A. Diuk-Wasser, Durland Fish
Primary Institution: Yale University
Hypothesis
Human WNV disease is linked to the urban environment independent of human population density.
Conclusion
The study found that urbanization significantly increases the risk of West Nile virus disease incidence.
Supporting Evidence
- Counties with less than 38% forest cover had 4.4 times greater odds of high WNV incidence.
- Urbanization was identified as a significant risk factor for WNV disease incidence.
- Data was collected from 1999 to 2006, covering 204 counties in 8 states.
Takeaway
This study shows that living in areas with less forest and more urban development makes people more likely to get sick from West Nile virus.
Methodology
The study analyzed 8 years of county-based human WNV disease surveillance data across 8 northeastern states.
Potential Biases
Potential biases in WNV incidence reporting due to unequal resource bases among counties.
Limitations
The spatial resolution of human surveillance data did not allow for finer evaluation of within-urban associations.
Participant Demographics
The study included data from 56.6 million residents in 8 northeastern states.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.01
Confidence Interval
95% CI 1.4–13.2
Statistical Significance
p<0.01
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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