title: Influence of climate and river level on the incidence of malaria in Cacao, French Guiana.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The epidemiological profiles of vector-borne diseases, such as malaria, are strongly associated with environmental conditions. An understanding of the effect of the climate on the occurrence of malaria may provide indirect insight into the anopheles mosquito vectors endemic to a particular region. The association between meteorological and hydrographical factors and the occurrence of malaria was studied in a village in French Guiana during an epidemic caused essentially by Plasmodium vivax.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cohort of confirmed cases of P. vivax malaria occurring between 2002 and 2007 was studied to search for an association between the number of new infection episodes occurring each month, mean, maximum and minimum monthly temperatures, cumulative rainfall for the month and the mean monthly height of the river bordering the village, with the aid of time series. Cross-correlation analysis revealed that these meteorological factors had large effects on the number of episodes, over a study period of 12 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Climatic factors supporting the continuance of the epidemic were identified in the short-term (low minimum temperatures during the month), medium-term (low maximum temperatures two months before) and long-term (low maximum temperatures nine months before and high lowest level of the river 12 months before). Cross-correlation analysis showed that the effects of these factors were greatest at the beginning of the short rainy season.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The association between the river level and the number of malaria attacks provides clues to better understand the environment of malaria transmission and the ecological characteristics of the vectors in the region.
authors.affiliation: Centre d'Investigation Clinique Epidémiologie Clinique Antilles Guyane CIC-EC CIE 802, Cayenne General Hospital, Cayenne, French Guiana.
authors.forename: Célia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Basurko
authors.forename: Matthieu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hanf
authors.forename: René
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Han-Sze
authors.forename: Stéphanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rogier
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Héritier
authors.forename: Claire
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Grenier
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Joubert
authors.forename: Mathieu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nacher
authors.forename: Bernard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Carme
mesh_terms: D002980:Climate; D005616:French Guiana / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D016780:Malaria, Vivax / Q000453:epidemiology*; D010966:Plasmodium vivax / Q000302:isolation & purification; D045483:Rivers; D012424:Rural Population