An influence of dew point temperature on the occurrence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis disease in Chennai, India

Climate factors such as dew point temperature, relative humidity and atmospheric temperature may be crucial for the spread of tuberculosis. This study was conducted for the first time to investigate the relationship of climatic factors with TB occurrence in an Indian setting. Daily tuberculosis notification data during 2008-2015 were generated from the National Treatment Elimination Program, and analogous daily climatic data were obtained from the Regional Meteorological Centre at Chennai city, Tamil Nadu, India. The decomposition method was adopted to split the series into deterministic and non-deterministic components, such as seasonal, non-seasonal, trend and cyclical, and non-deterministic climate factors. A generalized linear model was used to assess the relation independently. TB disease progression from latent stage infection to active was supported by higher dew point temperature and moderate temperature. It had a significant association with TB progression in the summer and monsoon seasons. The relative humidity may be favored in the winter and post-monsoon. The water tiny dew droplets may support the TB bacterium to recuperate in the environment.

Automated summary

This study investigated the relationship between climatic factors and TB occurrence in India for the first time, finding that dew point temperature and atmospheric temperature play crucial roles in the spread of tuberculosis. TB progression was significantly associated with higher dew point temperature and moderate temperatures in summer and monsoon seasons, while relative humidity may favor TB in winter and post-monsoon seasons. Dew droplets in the environment may support the recovery of TB bacteria.