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Journal of Clinical Microbiology logoLink to Journal of Clinical Microbiology
. 1982 Feb;15(2):212–215. doi: 10.1128/jcm.15.2.212-215.1982

Influence of humidity on rotavirus prevalence among Nigerian infants and young children with gastroenteritis.

M O Paul, E A Erinle
PMCID: PMC272062  PMID: 6279690

Abstract

Rotaviruses were detected by counterimmunoelectro-osmophoresis in the feces of 16 (13.8%) of 116 infants and young children with gastroenteritis during a 5-month period (September 1979 through January 1980) in Ife, Nigeria. The rate of rotavirus detection varied inversely with relative humidity and was highest in December (38.5% positive) when the humidity was lower. There was not such a distinct relationship with temperature or vapor pressure; and although the rate of rotavirus detection was higher in the drier months (November to January; 19.3% positive) than in the rainy season months (September and October; 8.5% positive), the average humidity was lower in the drier months than in the rainy months. Low relative humidity (49 to 78%) is apparently the most important environmental factor for rotavirus survival and spread in this area.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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