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. 2014 May 8;8(5):e2849.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0002849. eCollection 2014 May.

Reduction patterns of acute schistosomiasis in the People's Republic of China

Shi-Zhu Li  1 , Hao Zheng  1 , Eniola Michael Abe  2 , Kun Yang  3 , Robert Bergquist  4 , Ying-Jun Qian  1 , Li-Juan Zhang  1 , Zhi-Min Xu  1 , Jing Xu  1 , Jia-Gang Guo  1 , Ning Xiao  1 , Xiao-Nong Zhou  1
Affiliations

Reduction patterns of acute schistosomiasis in the People's Republic of China

Shi-Zhu Li et al. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. .

Abstract

Background: Despite significant, steady progress in schistosomiasis control in the People's Republic of China over the past 50 years, available data suggest that the disease has re-emerged with several outbreaks of acute infections in the early new century. In response, a new integrated strategy was introduced.

Methods: This retrospective study was conducted between Jan 2005 and Dec 2012, to explore the effectiveness of a new integrated control strategy that was implemented by the national control program since 2004.

Results: A total of 1,047 acute cases were recorded between 2005 and 2012, with an annual reduction in prevalence of 97.7%. The proportion of imported cases of schistosomiasis was higher in 2011 and 2012. Nine clusters of acute infections were detected by spatio-temporal analysis between June and November, indicating that the high risk areas located in the lake and marshland regions.

Conclusion: This study shows that the new integrated strategy has played a key role in reducing the morbidity of schistosomiasis in the People's Republic of China.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Schistosomiasis distribution in China in 2011.
Figure 2
Figure 2. Annual and weekly trends of acute schistosomiasis cases from 2005–2012.
Figure 3
Figure 3. Population distribution of acute schistosomiasis cases from 2005 to 2012 (Figure. 3-1: age distribution, Figure 3-2: occupational distribution, Figure 3-3: annual distribution of imported cases, Figure 3-4: annual ratio of male/female from 2005 to 2010).
Figure 4
Figure 4. Spatial clustering of acute cases infected with S. japonicum from 2005 to 2012.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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