Unsynchronized influenza epidemics in two neighboring subtropical cities. (April 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Tang, Xiujuan; Fang, Shisong; Chiu, Alice P.Y.; Lin, Qianying; Tang, Edwin Yiu Nam; Wang, Xin; He, Daihai
• Is Part Of: International journal of infectious diseases. Volume 69(2018)
• Page Start: 85
• Page End: 87
• Publication Date: 2018-04
• Subjects: Influenza epidemics -- Synchrony -- Shenzhen -- Hong Kong; Communicable diseases -- Periodicals; Communicable Diseases -- Periodicals; Communicable diseases; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 616.9
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijid.2018.02.019
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1201-9712

Abstract

Highlights: Influenza data for the years 2006 to 2016 in Hong Kong and Shenzhen were studied. Influenza epidemics appeared to be unsynchronized between Hong Kong and Shenzhen. Unsynchronized influenza epidemics could be due to differences in age structures. Abstract: Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the synchrony of influenza epidemics between Hong Kong and Shenzhen, two neighboring subtropical cities in South China. Methods: Laboratory-confirmed influenza data for the period January 2006 to December 2016 were obtained from the Shenzhen Center for Disease Control and Prevention and the Department of Health in Hong Kong. The population data were retrieved from the 2011 population censuses. The weekly rates of laboratory-confirmed influenza cases were compared between Shenzhen and Hong Kong. Results: Unsynchronized influenza epidemics between Hong Kong and Shenzhen were frequently observed during the study period. Influenza A/H1N1 caused a more severe pandemic in Hong Kong in 2009, but the subsequent seasonal epidemics showed similar magnitudes in both cities. Two influenza A/H3N2 dominant epidemic waves were seen in Hong Kong in 2015, but these epidemics were very minor in Shenzhen. More influenza B epidemics occurred in Shenzhen than in Hong Kong. Conclusions: Influenza epidemics appeared to be unsynchronized between Hong Kong and Shenzhen most of the time. Given the close geographical locations of these two cities, this could be due to the strikingly different age structures of their populations.