Effects of the El Nino Southern Oscillation on Influenza Peak Activity Timing

Influenza causes a significant burden to the world every year. In the temperate zone, influenza usually prevalent in the winter season, however, it is hardly predictable when the influenza epidemic will begin and when the peak activity will come. Influenza has a peak in early winter sometimes and a peak in late winter in another year. However, it is not well known what determines these epidemics timing, and the global climate change is expected to influence the timing of influenza epidemics.

Objective: This study aimed to explore the effects of El NiÃno and La Nina events on the timing of influenza A peak activity in European countries.