Impact of Climatic Factors on Hepatitis A Virus Transmission in Benghazi, Libya
Keywords:
Hepatitis A, HAV infection, climatic factors, demographic factors, BenghaziAbstract
Hepatitis A virus (HAV) remains a significant public health concern in urban settings where demographic and environmental factors may influence viral transmission. This study assessed the impact of demographic and environmental determinants on acute HAV infection in Benghazi, Libya, focusing on seasonal patterns and local climatic variables. A retrospective analysis was conducted on 158 serum samples collected from November 2024 to November 2025, with acute infection confirmed via HAV IgM seropositivity.
The overall HAV IgM positivity rate was 14.56%, with no significant difference between males (14.05%) and females (16.22%). Age-specific analysis revealed that adolescents (11–20 years, 30.8%) and young adults (21–30 years, 23.8%) were the most affected, whereas children under 10 years and individuals over 50 years showed no positive cases.
Infections occurred year-round, with minor seasonal fluctuations and a peak in April 2025 (35.3%). Statistical analyses indicated no significant correlation between HAV IgM positivity and temperature (r = -0.033) or relative humidity (r = 0.330), confirming that climatic factors alone do not drive transmission. The results indicate that age patterns were the main determinant observed in HAV infection, while climatic factors showed no significant association.These findings emphasize the need for monitoring demographic and seasonal trends to guide public health strategies and targeted vaccination programs, providing actionable insights for reducing HAV incidence in urban Libyan populations.
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