Spatiotemporal Epidemiological Trends of Mpox in Mainland China: Spatiotemporal Ecological Comparison Study

Abstract

Background: The World Health Organization declared mpox an international public health emergency. Since January 1, 2022, China has been ranked among the top 10 countries most affected by the mpox outbreak globally. However, there is a lack of spatial epidemiological studies on mpox, which are crucial for accurately mapping the spatial distribution and clustering of the disease.

Objective: This study aims to provide geographically accurate visual evidence to determine priority areas for mpox prevention and control.

Methods: Locally confirmed mpox cases were collected between June and November 2023 from 31 provinces of mainland China excluding Taiwan, Macao, and Hong Kong. Spatiotemporal epidemiological analyses, including spatial autocorrelation and regression analyses, were conducted to identify the spatiotemporal characteristics and clustering patterns of mpox attack rate and its spatial relationship with sociodemographic and socioeconomic factors.

Results: From June to November 2023, a total of 1610 locally confirmed mpox cases were reported in 30 provinces in mainland China, resulting in an attack rate of 11.40 per 10 million people. Global spatial autocorrelation analysis showed that in July (Moran I=0.0938; P=.08), August (Moran I=0.1276; P=.08), and September (Moran I=0.0934; P=.07), the attack rates of mpox exhibited a clustered pattern and positive spatial autocorrelation. The Getis-Ord Gi^* statistics identified hot spots of mpox attack rates in Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai, Jiangsu, and Hainan. Beijing and Tianjin were consistent hot spots from June to October. No cold spots with low mpox attack rates were detected by the Getis-Ord Gi^* statistics. Local Moran I statistics identified a high-high (HH) clustering of mpox attack rates in Guangdong, Beijing, and Tianjin. Guangdong province consistently exhibited HH clustering from June to November, while Beijing and Tianjin were identified as HH clusters from July to September. Low-low clusters were mainly located in Inner Mongolia, Xinjiang, Xizang, Qinghai, and Gansu. Ordinary least squares regression models showed that the cumulative mpox attack rates were significantly and positively associated with the proportion of the urban population (t_0.05/2,1=2.4041 P=.02), per capita gross domestic product (t_0.05/2,1=2.6955; P=.01), per capita disposable income (t_0.05/2,1=2.8303; P=.008), per capita consumption expenditure (PCCE; t_0.05/2,1=2.7452; P=.01), and PCCE for health care (t_0.05/2,1=2.5924; P=.01). The geographically weighted regression models indicated a positive association and spatial heterogeneity between cumulative mpox attack rates and the proportion of the urban population, per capita gross domestic product, per capita disposable income, and PCCE, with high R² values in north and northeast China.

Conclusions: Hot spots and HH clustering of mpox attack rates identified by local spatial autocorrelation analysis should be considered key areas for precision prevention and control of mpox. Specifically, Guangdong, Beijing, and Tianjin provinces should be prioritized for mpox prevention and control. These findings provide geographically precise and visualized evidence to assist in identifying key areas for targeted prevention and control.

Keywords: emergencies; mpox; prevention and control; public health; spatiotemporal analysis.

Figure 1

Spatiotemporal distribution of confirmed cases and attack rates of mpox. (A) Temporal distribution of confirmed cases and attack rates of mpox; (B) Spatiotemporal distribution of confirmed cases of mpox; (C) Spatiotemporal distribution of attack rates of mpox.

Figure 2

Spatiotemporal distribution of confirmed cases (A) and attack rates (B) of mpox from June to November 2023. A higher resolution version of this figure is available in Multimedia Appendix 4.

Figure 3

Results of Moran I statistic for global spatial autocorrelation analysis of mpox attack rates.

Figure 4

Results of local spatial autocorrelation analysis of mpox attack rates. (A) Getis-Ord Gi* statistic; (B) local Moran I statistic. A higher resolution version of this figure is available in Multimedia Appendix 5.

Figure 5

Spatial distribution of the coefficients (A) and local R² (B) values of the explanatory variables in the geographically weighted regression model. PCCE: per capita consumption expenditure; PCCEH: PCCE for health care; PCDI: per capita disposable income; PCGDP: per capita gross domestic product; PUP: proportion of the urban population. A higher resolution version of this figure is available in Multimedia Appendix 8.