[Spatial-temporal analysis on the distribution of infected snail at the village level in Anhui province, 2006-2012].

OBJECTIVE: The characteristics of spatial-temporal distribution on infected snails were analyzed at the village level in Anhui province, 2006-2012. METHODS: Data on the distribution of infected snails from 2006 to 2012 in Anhui province was collected. Spatial database was established by ArcGIS 9.3. Retrospective spatial-temporal cluster analysis was done by SaTScan 9.1.1 at the village level. RESULTS: Eight areas with increased risk and distributed along the upstream to downstream of Yangtze and connecting branch rivers, were found having infected snails, from 2006 through 2012, including one area in 2006, five in 2006-2008, one in 2007-2009 and one in 2009-2011, respectively. Proportion on the number of areas with infected snails decreased from 6.2% in 2006 to 0.5% in 2012. CONCLUSION: The spatial-temporal distribution of infected snail was not random but there appeared significant clusters. The trend seemed to be declining in Anhui province, between 2006 and 2012. Areas being detected as snails positive were important for the schistosomiasis control program to be carried out in Anhui province.