University of Iowa Professor James Tamerius has published a paper in PLOS Computational Biology. After analyzing H1N1 influenza outbreaks in Mexico during the 2009 pandemic, Tamerius and colleagues found the inconsistent timing of influenza waves was the result of interactions between school vacations and humidity.

Tamerius is an assistant professor in the Department of Geographical & Sustainability Sciences, part of the UI College of Liberal Arts & Sciences. His research interests include climate and human health and the seasonality of respiratory disease.

Using mathematical models, the researchers found high levels of humidity favored more rapid spread of influenza in tropical southeastern Mexican states during summer 2009. In central and northern states with moderate levels of humidity, transmission was reduced during the summer school break, but increased again in August when students returned to school.

The article, “Impact of School Cycles and Environmental Forcing on the Timing of Pandemic Influenza Activity in Mexican States, May-December 2009,” is available on the PLOS Computational Biology website.