Spread of Flu Virus Affected Air Humidity

Kompas.com - Disease influenza included in disease transmission is very easy. Influenza outbreaks usually occur during the winter season or the transition from the dry to the rainy season.


Actually there are three types of influenza viruses, virus A, B and C. A virus has the most widely distributed resources. Everything is spread from one person to another through direct contact, such as shaking hands with new people sneezing or close his mouth with his hand when coughing or inhaling water vapor infected.

According to recent research published in the journal PLoS One, the spread of the flu virus is strongly associated with the level of humidity. In temperate countries such as North America and Europe, flu outbreaks typically occur in winter. While the spread of influenza in tropical countries in the rainy season.

After measuring the survival rate of influenza A virus in different humidity levels, the researchers concluded that flu is more common in the winter because their survival in mucus increases when humidity is below 50 percent. Influenza virus also spread when the humidity near 100 percent.

When low humidity levels indoors during the winter, splashing respiratory mucus evaporates completely. In dry conditions this virus greater durability.

When the humidity rises to the level of being, stimulation did not evaporate with the perfect splash so less viruses could infect cells. That is why in the rainy season like now more and more people who had the flu.

Sources: http://health.kompas.com/read/2012/12/28/08580479/