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Mystery of Seasonality: Getting the Rhythm of Nature

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Abstract

Seasonality, a systematic periodic occurrence of events over the course of a year, is a well-known phenomenon in life and health sciences. Understanding seasonal fluctuations in diseases patterns presents us with a major challenge. To develop efficient strategies for disease prevention and control, we need to grasp the main determinants of temporal variations and their interactions. This paper will introduce the notion of seasonality by outlining several of its factors, using as illustrations respiratory and enteric water- or food-borne infections.

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Notes

  1. Hippocrates' citations are taken from: Lloyd, GER, editor. Hippocratic Writings. Trans. Chadwick J and Mann WN. London: Penguin; 1978.

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Acknowledgements

I thank Drs Eileen O'Neil and Beth Rosenberg for their thoughtful suggestions, and the support of funding agencies: the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (U19AI062627), and the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (R01ES013171).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Public Health and Family Medicine, Tufts University School of Medicine, 136 Harrison Avenue, Boston, 02111, MA, USA

    Elena N Naumova

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  1. Elena N Naumova
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Correspondence to Elena N Naumova.

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As a student of time series in epidemiology, our own Statistical Editor uses recent weather-related disasters to explore the ever problematic issue of seasonality in health.

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Naumova, E. Mystery of Seasonality: Getting the Rhythm of Nature. J Public Health Pol 27, 2–12 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1057/palgrave.jphp.3200061

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