Journal of Astrobiology & Outreach

Abstract

Sunspot Activity, Influenza and Ebola Outbreak Connection

Jiangwen Qu, Zhigang Gao, Ying Zhang, Milton Wainwright, Chandra Wickramasinghe and Tareq Omairi

An ever-present threat of a major new influenza pandemic of devastating proportions haunts us, and despite diligent monitoring of circulating viruses has been impossible to predict. On a more local scale outbreaks of Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever (EHF) in West Africa have posed a serious public health threat because of its high fatality risk. Research on the environmental factors underlying both EHF and influenza epidemiology may provide useful insights into the occurrence of future pandemic outbreaks. This study suggests that sunspot activity in extremum or ± one year was associated with influenza pandemics and severe EHF outbreaks in Africa from 1976 to 2014. Potential mechanisms by which sunspot activity may influence viral outbreaks are discussed. Current and future surveillance efforts should be supported to construct a comprehensive early warning system involving virus monitoring and epidemioilogy on the ground, sunspot activity as well as stratospheric sampling for forecasting future pandemics.