The seasonality of human cryptosporidiosis in New Zealand

I. R. Lake, J. Pearce, M. Savill

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

26 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

In New Zealand human cryptosporidiosis demonstrates spring and autumn peaks of incidence with the spring peak being three times greater in magnitude than the autumn peak. The imbalance between the two peaks is notable, and may be associated with the high livestock density in New Zealand. In the summer and autumn the cryptosporidiosis rate was positively associated with temperatures in the current and previous month, highlighting the importance of outdoor recreation to transmission. No associations between spring incidence and weather were found providing little support for the importance of drinking-water pathways. Imported travel cases do not appear to be an important factor in the aetiology of cryptosporidiosis in New Zealand.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1383-1387
Number of pages5
JournalEpidemiology and Infection
Volume136
Issue number10
Early online date4 Dec 2007
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Oct 2008

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