[Epidemiology and surveillance programs on hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome in Mainland China, 2005 - 2008].

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the epidemiologic and surveillance data of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) in China, from 2005 to 2008, to describe the epidemiology and trend of HFRS.

METHODS

Descriptive epidemiology were studied to analyze the surveillance data from 2005 to 2008, collected from both the internet-based national notifiable disease reporting system and 40 HFRS sentinel sites developed since 2005 in 40 counties around China.

RESULTS

A total of 56 077 HFRS cases and 692 deaths reported in China with case fatality rate as 1.23%. Morbidity and mortality had been annually decreasing since 2004. The top 7 provinces with HFRS cases were Heilongjiang, Liaoning, Jilin, Shandong, Shaanxi, Hebei and Zhejiang, which had a total of 44 081 cases reported, accounting for 78.61% of the total number of cases, in the nation. More cases were reported in spring and autumn-winter season, with the peak in November. Cases reported in males were 3.13 times of the females and most cases seen in young and middle-aged farmers. The density and the virus carrying rate of animal hosts and the distribution of dominant species were relatively stable and similar to the previous findings. Apodemus agrarius and Rattus norvegicus were still the most common and predominant animal hosts. No genetic mutation of Hantavirus was detected in the surveillance program.

CONCLUSION

The continuous descending trend of the HFRS epidemics could be related to the successful strategies on comprehensive prevention and control measures, as controlling the number of rodents and vectors, carrying out HFRS vaccination campaign and health education by the local health care takers in the recent years. Implementation of the new national Expanded Program of Immunization on HFRS vaccine in high-risk areas may further reduce the epidemics. However, both the density and the virus carried rate among the host animals remain high in some areas, together with the emergence of new epidemic areas, all call for more attention to be paid on the disease.