We investigated the temporal and spatial dynamics,
as well as the seasonal occurrence of measles in Ondo state,
Nigeria, to better understand the role of the thermal environment
in the occurrence of the childhood killer disease measles,
which ranks among the top ten leading causes of child deaths
worldwide. The linkages between measles and atmospheric
environmental factors were examined by correlating humanbiometeorological
parameters in the study area with reported
clinical cases of measles for the period 1998–2008. We also
applied stepwise regression analysis in order to determine the
human-biometeorological parameters that lead to statistical
changes in reported clinical cases of measles. We found that
high reported cases of measles are associated with the least
populated areas, where rearing and cohabitation of livestock/
domestic animals within human communities are common.
There was a significant correlation (P<0.01) between monthly
cases of measles and human-biometeorological parameters
except wind speed and vapour pressure. High transmission of
measles occurred in the months of January to May during
the dry season when human thermal comfort indices are
very high. This highlights the importance of the thermal
environment in disease demographics since it accounted for
more than 40% variation in measles transmission within the
study period.