Case-control study on Puumala virus infection: smoking is a risk factor

• Published in: Epidemiology and infection 2010-04, Vol.138 (4), p.576-584
• Main Authors: VAPALAHTI, K., VIRTALA, A.-M., VAHERI, A., VAPALAHTI, O.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Age; Age groups; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Animals; Arvicolinae; Biological and medical sciences; Case control studies; Chronic illnesses; Cigarette smoking; Confounding (Statistics); Datasets; Disease Vectors; Epidemics; Female; Finland - epidemiology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gender; haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS); Hantavirus; Hantavirus infections; Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome - epidemiology; Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome - transmission; Humans; Infections; Internet; Laboratories; Male; Microbiology; Middle Aged; Miscellaneous; Multivariate analysis; Other viruses; Predisposing factors; Puumala virus; Puumala virus - isolation & purification; Questionnaires; Regression analysis; Response rates; Risk Factors; Rodents; Smoke; Smoking - adverse effects; Suburban areas; Variables; Virology; Viruses; Young Adult; Zoonoses - transmission
• ISSN: 0950-2688; 1469-4409
• DOI: 10.1017/S095026880999077X

Puumala hantavirus (PUUV) is apparently transmitted to humans by inhalation of aerosolized secretions of carrier rodents (bank voles). The means of transmission and the associated risk factors are poorly defined. An epidemiological study during the peak of an epidemic season in Finland was conducted based on 282 acute clinical PUUV infections and 204 controls without PUUV infection or immunity. The main risk factors adjusted by age, sex and living environment were cigarette smoking [odds ratio (OR) 3·6, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2·1–5·9, P