Epidemiological characteristics of five cases of importing yellow fever in Fujian province and strategies for prevention and control of infection in hospital

Abstract

Objective To analyze the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of 5 patients with importing yellow fever, and to explore the preventive and control strategies of infection in hospital. Methods The epidemiological and clinical characteristics of 5 cases of importing yellow fever in Infectious Disease Hospital of Fujian Medical University from March 18th to April 6th in 2016 were retrospectively reviewed and analyzed. Results Five patients were all from Angola Luanda. One of them was vaccinated before going aboard, and the others were vaccinated 1—10 days before disease onset in Angola. All of them were bitten by mosquitoes, and their onset date ranged from March 11th to March 27th, before returned to Fujian. The main clinical symptoms were fever, chilly, shivering, fatigue, arthrodynia, headache, and liver and kidney injury. At manifestations, two patients had positive nuclear acid of yellow fever virus in serum samples and 3 patients were positive in urine samples. All of these patients were negative for dengue virus and Zika virus testing, meanwhile no plasmodium was found in blood smears. All patients were cured and discharged. Conclusions There is risk of yellow fever transmission in Fujian Province. Prevention and control of the disease should be focus on improving the ability of finding and coping with the importing cases. Vaccination and hygiene knowledge propagation should be given for those who are going to epidemic country/area. Emergency monitoring and control of mosquitoes are necessary. Key words: Fujian; Importing; Yellow fever; Epidemiology; Communicable disease control