The Effect of Environmental Temperature on Experimental Influenza in Mice

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Abstract
Summary: The studies herein presented indicate that environmental temperature has little effect on mortality of Swiss mice infected with influenzal virus A. A significant effect was noted, however, on the general course of the experimental infection. Animals kept at higher environmental temperatures (95 F) showed significantly less pulmonary involvement than those kept at lower temperatures (60 F). These observations seem to be borne out to some extent by the known relation of climate and seasonal change to the frequency and severity of the disease in general, and would conform well to the known epidemiology of human epidemic influenza. It would appear that the occurrence of outbreaks of influenza may be affected by environmental temperature, influencing both infectivity of the virus and general resistance of the host.