Proximity of Residence to Bodies of Water and Risk for West Nile Virus Infection: A Case-Control Study in Houston, Texas

Melissa S Nolan,Diana Martinez,Ana Zangeneh,Susan N Rossmann,Salma A Khuwaja,Kristy O Murray,Victor Cardenas

doi:10.1155/2012/159578

Abstract

West Nile virus (WNV), a mosquito-borne virus, has clinically affected hundreds of residents in the Houston metropolitan area since its introduction in 2002. This study aimed to determine if living within close proximity to a water source increases one's odds of infection with WNV. We identified 356 eligible WNV-positive cases and 356 controls using a population proportionate to size model with US Census Bureau data. We found that living near slow moving water sources was statistically associated with increased odds for human infection, while living near moderate moving water systems was associated with decreased odds for human infection. Living near bayous lined with vegetation as opposed to concrete also showed increased risk of infection. The habitats of slow moving and vegetation lined water sources appear to favor the mosquito-human transmission cycle. These methods can be used by resource-limited health entities to identify high-risk areas for arboviral disease surveillance and efficient mosquito management initiatives.

Highlights

Houston, Texas, is a metropolis in the southeastern United States with around four million residents [1]
We found no statistical association between residential proximity to water and odds for human West Nile virus (WNV) infection
We found no direct association between proximity of residences to water sources and odds of WNV human infection in Houston, Texas

Summary

Introduction

Texas, is a metropolis in the southeastern United States with around four million residents [1]. In southeastern United States, Culex quinquefasciatus mosquitoes have been demonstrated as important vectors of WNV disease transmission [2, 4]. Mosquito control efforts in Houston, Texas, target residential areas where either mosquito pools or dead birds are positive for WNV disease. The ecological dynamic between vector, reservoir, and human habitats is critical to understand when examining risk for human WNV infection. While this vector’s larval habitat preferences are known, no studies to date have examined direct associations between larval water habitats and WNV human disease transmission. This paper presents a novel method for examining disease clustering and its spatial association with water sources

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