The current status of schistosomiasis epidemics in China / 中华流行病学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To analyze the change of tendency on schistosomiasis epidemics in China in the last 5 years.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Data on schistosomiasis epidemics in the history and particularly in the last 5 years were collected. Tendency and the re-emerging status after 1998 were analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Data in 2003 showed that in 42%, 40% and 53% of the provinces, counties and townships with epidemics, the transmission of the disease has been interrupted or controlled. The number of estimated patients of schistosomiasis and areas with snails were also reduced by 92.74% and 73.56%, in 2003. The annual estimated number of chronic cases was around 800 000 and 31 321.5 hectare of snail infested areas were newly identified in recent 5 years. Among 20 national villages under longitudinal surveillance, 30%, 70% and 35% of the villages were presented a tendency of increase in the rates of human infection, bovine infection and Oncomelania snails infection, respectively. A total of 38 counties from 7 provinces have re-emerged in schistosomiasis transmission after those counties having reached criteria of transmission under control or interrupted. In 6 non-endemic counties, snails were presented, and 16 marshlands in Xan river were found with appearance of acute cases of schistosomiasis. More snail infested areas were found in Shanghai, Zhejiang, and Fujian. Both snail infested areas and newly infected cases were occurred in urban areas along the Yangtze River.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The tendency of increase was presented in focal areas along the Yangtze River, due to changes of environmental, ecological, societal and economic status, as well as on the forces of control.</p>

Study on the risk factors of schistosomiasis transmission and control strategy in the Three Gorges Reservoir Areas / 中华流行病学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To understand the risk factors of schistosomiasis transmission in the Three Gorges Reservoir Area (TGRA) and to provide evidence for the development of control strategy.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Approaches including epidemiology, immunology and field survey were applied to investigate the potential risk factors which would involve the importation of infectious resources live mobile and migrant population, and livestock in the reservoir area. Meanwhile, observation on survival and reproductive status of snail under simulation habitats was also carried out, using ecological methods on snails. Strategy in preventing the spread of snail as infectious resources was also provided.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>175 mobile people from schistosomaisis endemic area of were tested and one person showed immunology tests positive with indirect hemagglutination test (IHA) and circumoral precipitin test (COPT), with a positive rate of 0.57%. Through the two-year period under observation, data showed that the snails with ribbon/smooth shells could survive and reproduce under habitats of simulation.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Once the infectious resource of schistosomiasis was introduced into the TGRA, the area became a new schistosomiasis epidemic area in TGRA which called for countermeasures to be taken.</p>

Study on the re-emerging situation of schistosomiasis epidemics in areas already under control and interruption / 中华流行病学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the current situation and the cause of schistosomiasis resurgence in order to provide reference for formulation of control strategy.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Data in 1999 - 2003 and baseline data in some areas were collected and analyzed retrospectively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Resurgence was seen in 6.15% (16/260) of the areas and one farm where transmission of schistosomiasis had been interrupted and 33.33% (21/64) of the areas already under control. Snails appeared to have been rebounded only in six counties (farm) while in thirty two counties that rebound was seen in both snails and disease prevalence. Tendency of increase in the total numbers of patients, acute patients and cattle with schistosomiasis, areas with snails were seen from 1999 to 2003.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Environmental, ecological, societal factors such as flood, acequia, lack of expenditure and lack of incentives at work etc. contributed to the resurgence of epidemics in those areas that criteria had been reached. Surveillance and supervision on the sources of infection and snail diffusion, especially in the areas where the transmission of schistosomiasis had already been under control.</p>