[Endemic status of schistosomiasis in People's Republic of China in 2015].

Abstract

This report presented the endemic status of schistosomiasis in the People's Republic of China at a national level in 2015, and analyzed the data collected from the national schistosomiasis prevention and control system and 457 national schistosomiasis surveillance sites. Among the 12 provinces (municipality, autonomous region) endemic for schistosomiasis japonica in P. R. China, 5 provinces (municipality, autonomous region), i.e., Shanghai, Zhejiang, Fujian, Guangdong and Guangxi, had achieved transmission interruption, and 7 provinces of Sichuan, Yunnan, Jiangsu, Hubei, Anhui, Jiangxi and Hunan had achieved transmission control by the end of 2015. There were 453 endemic counties (city, district) covering 252 million people, specifically including 29 980 endemic villages of 68.61 million people at risk of infection. Among the 453 endemic counties (city, district), 75.72% (343/453) and 24.28% (110/453) reached the criteria of transmission interruption and transmission control, respectively. By the end of 2015, it was estimated of 77 194 cases of schistosomiasis, which were decreased by 33.23% compared with 115 614 cases in 2014. No acute schistosomiasis cases were reported in 2015. There were 30 843 advanced schistosomiasis cases documented in 2015. A total of 8 736 036 individuals received schistosomiasis examinations and 3 606 individuals were parasitologically diagnosed, which were decreased by 56.40% compared with 8 270 cases in 2014. An Oncomelania hupensis snail survey was performed in 19 965 endemic villages and the snails were found in 5 609 villages, accounting for 28.09% of total villages, with 31 newly detected villages with snails. The snail survey covered an area of 593 572.66 hm2 and snails were found in an area of 173 462.50 hm2, including a newly detected area of 666.04 hm2. No infected snails were found in 2015. A total of 879 373 bovines were raised in the schistosomiasis endemic regions. Of them, 526 062 bovines received stool examinations, resulting in 315 infected bovines. There were 170 438 schistosomiasis cases receiving drug treatment in 2015, with 2 449 696 individuals undergoing expanded chemotherapy. There were 318 bovines with schistosomiasis receiving drug treatment, with 483 213 bovines undergoing expanded chemotherapy. A total of 144 305.52 hm2 area was subject to snail control by using molluscicides, with an actual molluscicide-treated area of 69 221.57 hm2, and 4 572.06 hm2 snail habitats were treated by environmental modification. Based on the data from the 457 national schistosomiasis surveillance sites, the mean Schistosoma japonicum infection rate was 0.05% and 0.04% in humans and bovines, respectively. No infected snails were found in all the surveillance sites. The results demonstrate a decline in the endemicity of schistosomiasis in P. R. China and the country reached the criteria of transmission control at the national level. However, the endemic situation of schistosomiasis is unstable in some regions with newly-reached transmission control, and further control and effective surveillance should be strengthened to consolidate the achievements and reduce the endemic situation of schistosomiasis in P. R. China.