[Epidemiological characteristics and the strategy of vaccination on hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome in the last 10 years, in China].

OBJECTIVE

To study the epidemiological characteristics and vaccination strategy of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) in China, from 1998 to 2007.

METHODS

National data on the prevalence of HFRS during 1998 to 2007 were collected and analyzed. Spatial, time and population distributions of HFRS cases were described.

RESULTS

HFRS appeared to remain endemic in the country, while the majority of cases (accounting for 81.76% of total cases), were located in Shandong, Heilongjiang, Liaoning, Hebei, Shaanxi, Hunan, Jilin and Zhejiang provinces. The occurrence of HFRS appeared to be seasonal, with two peaks in spring season and autumn/winter season, with 10.00% of the cases occurred in these peak months. The incidence rates were at a relatively low level because of the continuous decline of HFRS in the recent years. With age distribution, 0.97% were younger than 10, 96.71% were between 10 and 70, 87.32% were between 15 and 60, and 2.31% were older than 70. The proportion of male patients accounted for three quarters. Around 70.00% of the cases were farmers. Young and middle-aged male farmers were at high risk.

CONCLUSION

The descriptive study on epidemiological characteristics of HFRS in the recent years had provided scientific evidence for vaccination strategy, suggesting the key regions, sub-populations as well as types of vaccines be determined.