Impact of schistosomiasis transmission by catastrophic flood damage and emergency response in China

Abstract

Flood damage is one of the ordinary natural calamities. The areas of middle and down of the Yangtze River and its south are the endemic area of schistosomiasis. As the flood damage, it causes property loss, and harm public and people health severely even. This paper aims at the status of catastrophic flood damage again in the Yangtze River basin, analyzes the impact of schistosomiasis transmission by it, and indicates that at present, the process of schistosomiasis control in China is marching from transmission control to transmission interruption and elimination, but the frequent flooding exacerbates Oncomelania hupensis snail breeding area and schistosomiasis source spreading, which may influence, in a certain extent, the realization of the goal of schistosomiasis control in China. We should timely assess and monitor the impact and risk of schistosomiasis transmission by flood damage, and give the early warning and adopt emergency handling measures in time. This paper also proposes the disaster prevention measures according to flood damage stages (the early, middle, later, and post-flood) and the occurrence and development of damage and endemic situation, so as to control the risk and damage of the disease transmission in a high limit, to consolidate the current achievements of schistosomiasis prevention and control and guarantee the realization of the goal of schistosomiasis interruption and elimination in China on the schedule.