Seasonal flu patterns in temperate and tropical regions may both be driven by specific humidity

AI Summary

Seasonal influenza patterns differ between temperate and tropical regions, with temperate areas experiencing winter peaks and tropical regions facing continuous low-intensity activity with biannual peaks or rainy season surges. Approximately one billion people contract influenza yearly, resulting in up to 650,000 deaths worldwide.

Every year, about a billion people worldwide contract influenza, leading to as many as 650,000 deaths. Outbreaks are often seasonal, and their pattern varies by climatic zone. In temperate regions, flu season is in the winter, while in the tropics, constant low-intensity activity is typically punctuated by two annual peaks—or a surge during the rainy season.