William Atkins
Wednesday, 11 February 2009 20:28
Science -
Health
Page 1 of 4
Two researchers from Oregon tested their hypothesis that influenza (flu) is more likely to occur because of absolute humidity rather than relative humidity (what we usually call the humidity in the air). What they found out could help us battle the flu bug each winter.
Climate physicist
Jeffrey Shaman and epidemiologist
Melvin Kohn were not convinced with various past explanations by the medical community as to why influenza occurs more in cold winter months rather than warm summer months.
They decided to test their own hypothesis.
Medical professions aren’t sure why flu (influenza) is worse in colder temperatures (during the winter) than in warmer temperatures (during the summer).
Some ideas say that people are cooped inside more in winter and thus are more likely to catch the virus from their confined living spaces.
Others say that vitamin-D and melatonin levels (which the body acquires from the Sun) are lower because they are inside more in the winter and the Sun is lower in the sky and daylight hours are shorter in the winter.
Relative humidity has also been suggested as a way that viruses can grow. Drier air (less moist air) caused by indoor heating systems has been suggested as a way that allows viruses to survive longer and stronger.
Page two talks about relative versus absolute humidity, along with an explanation as to why the two researchers performed their study.
