Effect of the seasons on pneumococcal infections

Pneumococcal infections are still a global public health problem. Though striking, the seasonality of these infections remains a mystery for science. Researchers from the Institut Pasteur have finally unraveled the mechanisms behind the discontinuity of these infections.
The pneumococcus bacterium is responsible for severe infections (pneumonia and meningitis) and frequent deaths (almost three times more than car accidents in France), particularly in young children and the elderly. In temperate climates, pneumococcal infections are highly seasonal with a significant peak in winter, especially in the populations most at risk. By combining French epidemiological and meteorological data between 2001 and 2010, scientists from the Institut Pasteur Pharmacoepidemiology and Infectious Diseases Laboratory have revealed how much the climate, influenza infections and seasonal variations in contact with children (particularly at Christmas) impact the frequency of these infections. These findings suggest that measures that take into account these environmental conditions, or a public health policy that targets certain specific periods, could help to significantly reduce pneumococcal infections.

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