Félix Rivera-Mariani, an associate professor in the College of Arts and Sciences, was featured by Puerto Rico’s major media outlets—El Nuevo Día and Telemundo Puerto Rico—for research examining the connection between airborne fungal spores and respiratory viral surges.
Study Findings and Methods
Rivera-Mariani’s team investigated whether airborne fungal spore concentrations could predict short-term increases in influenza and COVID-19 cases in the San Juan/Metro and Caguas regions. According to the research, spore concentrations—particularly during the fall season—showed consistent associations with rises in respiratory viral infections. The work employed machine-learning models that use spore levels to forecast high-incidence weeks with a 1–2-week lead time, offering what researchers describe as a practical early-warning tool for public-health preparedness.
Collaboration and Presentation
The study was conducted in collaboration with the University of Puerto Rico: Medical Sciences, along with aerobiology and National Allergy Bureau stations led by Benjamín Bolaños-Rosero. The research was presented as a Late-Breaking abstract at the American Society of Microbiology 2025 meeting, bringing the findings to the scientific community.
This article is an AI-assisted summary. All facts and figures are drawn from the original report: https://www.lynn.edu/news/2025/rivera-mariani-featured-by-puerto-rico-media-on-respiratory-viruses-study