Impact of environmental factors on COVID-19 cases and mortalities in major cities of Pakistan

Introduction:Climate factors play an important role in the transmission of viruses,such as influenza viruses,MERS-CoV,and SARS-CoV-1.This study aimed to determine the relationship between changes in temperature,humidity,rainfall,and SARS-CoV-2 contagion.Five ecologically and climatically distinct regions were considered—Karachi,Lahore,Islamabad,Peshawar,and Gilgit-Baltistan.Method:Data on daily COVID-19 cases and deaths were retrieved from government officials,while meteorological information was collected from Pakistan Meteorological Department.Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 20 and the Spearman rank correlation test was used to analyze the correlation between the meteorological factors and COVID-19 cases and deaths.Result:Positive correlation of COVID-19 incidence was observed with all the temperature ranges(maximum,minimum and average)and negative correlation was seen with humidity,DTR and rainfall.COVID-19 deaths were positively associated with temperature and were negatively associated only with humidity.Linear regression showed that for every unit increase in humidity,there was a
3.345 daily signifi-cant decrease in COVID-19 cases,while in Karachi for every unit increase in humidity,there remained a 10.104 daily significant increase in cases.In Gilgit-Baltistan,for every unit increase in average temperature and rainfall respectively,significant increases of 0.534 and 1.286 in daily cases were found.Conclusion:This study signifies the effect of climate factors on COVID-19 incidence and mortality rate,but climate factors are not the only variable and several other interlinked factors enhance the spread of COVID-19.Hence,effective mitigation policies,enhancing testing capacities,and developing public attitudes toward adopting precautionary measures are important to overcome this overwhelming pandemic.

Assessment of risk factors associated with oral polio vaccine refusal in Rahim Yar Khan District,Pakistan(2017)

Objective:This study aimed to determine the risk factors associated with oral polio vaccine(OPV)refusal.Methodology:A case-control study was conducted in Rahim Yar Khan(RYK)District,Pakistan.A case was defined as‘‘any child aged<5 years who was enrolled in the microplans of RYK District as part of the National Immunization Days program in January 2017 and whose parents or guardians refused to receive OPV for these eligible children.”The age-and sex-matched controls(1:1)were obtained from the same locality.Ratios were calculated,and odds ratios(ORs)were determined at 95%confidence interval(CI)and p<0.05.Results:Among the 110 children,64(58%)were male(male to female ratio,1.4:1).The mean age was 29.5 months(range,0.26–60 months).Seventy-four(67.2%)children were living in urban areas and 29(26.3%)children were living in peri-urban and rural areas,while seven(6.3%)were considered nomads.A total of 72(65.2%)children were Punjabi speaking,33(30%)were Saraiki speaking,2(3.7%)were Urdu speaking,and 2(1.82%)were Balochi speaking.Repeated campaigns(n=91,82.7%)was the major reason for OPV refusal.Living at a distance>1 km from a healthcare facility was significantly associated(OR,2.5;95%CI,1.4–4.4;p<0.05)with OPV refusal,while prior visits by healthcare workers(OR,0.11;95%CI,0.06–0.22;p<0.05)and mother’education above primary level(OR,0.42;95%CI,0.24–0.73;p<0.05)were inversely associated with OPV refusal.Conclusion:On the basis of our recommendations,door-to-door social mobilization visits by healthcare workers to alleviate fear,misconception,and fatigue of repeated campaigns and strict accountability mechanism were developed by district government at pre-and intra-campaign levels.