Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40547462›Full record

ArticleFrontiers in public health2025

Impact of meteorological factors on transmission of respiratory viruses across all age groups in the hot arid climate in Qatar.

May Husein, Salma Younes, Muthanna Samara, M Rami Alfarra, Abdullatif Al Khal, Muna Al Maslamani, Gheyath K Nasrallah, Einas Al Kuwari, Ali Al-Kinani, Peter V Coyle and 1 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Frontiers in public health, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

May HuseinMolecular Virology Lab, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology (DLMP), Hamad General Hospital (HGH), Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), Doha, Qatar.
Salma YounesDepartment of Research, Women's Wellness and Research Center, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar.
Muthanna SamaraDepartment of Psychology, Kingston University London, Kingston upon Thames, United Kingdom.
M Rami AlfarraQatar Environment and Energy Research Institute, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Doha, Qatar.
Abdullatif Al KhalCommunicable Disease Center, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar.
Muna Al MaslamaniCommunicable Disease Center, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar.
Gheyath K NasrallahBiomedical Research Center, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar.
Einas Al KuwariMolecular Virology Lab, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology (DLMP), Hamad General Hospital (HGH), Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), Doha, Qatar.
Ali Al-KinaniDrug Discovery, Delivery and Patient Care Theme (DDDPC), Faculty of Science, Engineering and Computing, Kingston University London, Kingston upon Thames, United Kingdom.
Peter V CoyleMolecular Virology Lab, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology (DLMP), Hamad General Hospital (HGH), Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), Doha, Qatar.
Nader Al-DewikDepartment of Research, Women's Wellness and Research Center, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: The association between meteorological parameters and viral transmission in temperate and subtropical arid climates is not fully understood. The climate in Qatar reaches extremes of heat and humidity but retains a similar pattern of transmission of respiratory viruses as in temperate climates. Gap statement: The need for a better understanding of the demographic and meteorological factors that drive the transmission of respiratory viruses in the community. Aim: To evaluate the relationship between meteorological and demographic factors on the transmission of 18 respiratory viruses in the State of Qatar. Materials and methods: In total, 355,948 nasopharyngeal swabs were tested for respiratory viruses from 31-Dec-2018 to 29-Dec-2019. The study involved 18 viruses, of which only 8 viruses were included in the analysis: ADV, hBoV, Flu-A, Flu-B, hPIV3, hMPV, HRV, and RSV. Respiratory virus prevalence was compared with local meteorological data including outdoor air temperature; dew point; wind speed; atmospheric pressure; relative humidity; solar radiation, and demographic factors, including age, gender, and nationality. Results: Transmission waves were seen for ADV, hBoV, Flu-A, Flu-B, hMPV, HRV and RSV but not with hPIV-3. Wind speed, air temperature, relative humidity, and solar radiation were significantly associated with Flu-A, Flu-B, hMPV, and RSV, which showed clear seasonality, but not with HRV, hBoV, and ADV, which had atypical seasonality and hPIV-3, which had no seasonality. Incidental associations could not be excluded and would need to be confirmed through multiple seasons. School age was the most significant demographic. Conclusion: Young children, rather than meteorological factors, served as the primary determinant of viral transmission. The proximity of 3 large viral waves to school reopening after the summer break suggested school transmission is an important contributor. The significant association of meteorological factors with viral transmission increased the risk further, reflecting the period of the year of maximum transmission. This was seen with as viruses with a clear seasonality but not with viruses with atypical or absent seasonality.

Indexed as

Meteorological ConceptsRespiratory Tract InfectionsVirus DiseasesAdolescentAdultAgedChildChild, PreschoolFemaleHumansInfantInfant, NewbornMaleMiddle AgedQatarYoung Adultageepidemiologygenderhot and climatemeteorological factorsrespiratory viruses

Identifiers

PMID40547462
PMCPMC12179065

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.