Soneja S, Jiang C, Romeo Upperman C, Murtugudde R, S Mitchell C, Blythe D, Sapkota AR, Sapkota A

Environmental Research

Published date May 20, 2016

Extreme precipitation events and increased risk of campylobacteriosis in Maryland, U.S.A.

  • States limited information exists regarding the impacts of extreme heat and precipitation events on campylobacteriosis risk, and how such risk may differentially impact coastal communities
  • Obtains Campylobacter case data 2002-2012; n=4804) from the Maryland Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network (FoodNet)
  • Identifies extreme heat and extreme precipitation events during this time (2002-2012) using location and calendar day specific thresholds (95th percentile for extreme heat and 90th percentile for extreme precipitation) that were computed based on a 30-year baseline (1960-1989)
  • Observes that a one-day increase in exposure to extreme precipitation events was associated with a 3% increase in risk of campylobacteriosis in coastal areas of Maryland (Incidence Rate Ratio (IRR): 1.03, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.01, 1.05), but such an association was not observed in noncoastal areas