Unsynchronized influenza epidemics in two neighboring subtropical cities.
Int J Infect Dis
; 69: 85-87, 2018 Apr.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-29510218
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE:
The aim of this study was to examine the synchrony of influenza epidemics between Hong Kong and Shenzhen, two neighboring subtropical cities in South China.METHODS:
Laboratory-confirmed influenza data for the period January 2006 to December 2016 were obtained from the Shenzhen Center for Disease Control and Prevention and the Department of Health in Hong Kong. The population data were retrieved from the 2011 population censuses. The weekly rates of laboratory-confirmed influenza cases were compared between Shenzhen and Hong Kong.RESULTS:
Unsynchronized influenza epidemics between Hong Kong and Shenzhen were frequently observed during the study period. Influenza A/H1N1 caused a more severe pandemic in Hong Kong in 2009, but the subsequent seasonal epidemics showed similar magnitudes in both cities. Two influenza A/H3N2 dominant epidemic waves were seen in Hong Kong in 2015, but these epidemics were very minor in Shenzhen. More influenza B epidemics occurred in Shenzhen than in Hong Kong.CONCLUSIONS:
Influenza epidemics appeared to be unsynchronized between Hong Kong and Shenzhen most of the time. Given the close geographical locations of these two cities, this could be due to the strikingly different age structures of their populations.Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Influenza, Human
/
Epidemics
Limits:
Adolescent
/
Adult
/
Aged
/
Aged80
/
Child
/
Child, preschool
/
Humans
/
Infant
/
Middle aged
/
Newborn
Country/Region as subject:
Asia
Language:
En
Journal:
Int J Infect Dis
Journal subject:
DOENCAS TRANSMISSIVEIS
Year:
2018
Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
China