Predicting High-Risk Areas for La Crosse Virus Infection in West Virginia
Author Information
Author(s): Haddow Andrew D., Bixler Danae, Schuh Amy J.
Primary Institution: The University of Tennessee
Hypothesis
The study investigates demographic and socioeconomic risk factors for La Crosse virus infection in West Virginia.
Conclusion
Socioeconomically disadvantaged populations are at the highest risk for La Crosse virus infection.
Supporting Evidence
- Census tracts with lower education levels and lower housing density were more likely to report LACV cases.
- The cluster discriminant analysis was more predictive than the census tract analysis.
- Older housing was associated with higher risk for LACV infection.
Takeaway
People who have less education and live in older, less densely populated areas are more likely to get sick from a virus spread by mosquitoes.
Methodology
Two forward stepwise discriminant analyses were performed to evaluate demographic and socioeconomic factors predicting LACV infection cases and high-risk clusters.
Potential Biases
The use of stepwise methodologies may introduce sampling errors and fail to select the best subset of variables.
Limitations
The study used total population data for spatial analysis, which may not accurately represent the pediatric population.
Participant Demographics
Participants ranged in age from 0.42 to 54 years, with a median age of 8 years.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.000
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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