Infectious disease morbidity, 1956-1980.

Abstract

In the past few years in Shanghai County China infectious diseases have posed major health problems. The system for notification and registration of infectious diseases was established in 1956. The county Health and Antiepidemic Station (HAES) was established in 1950. At this time there are 28 reportable conditions. The conditions of cholera plague and smallpox are to be reported immediately by telephone. The others are to be reported using a standard report card developed by the municipal Health and Antiepidemic Center. The report cards are completed at the brigade level by barefoot doctors and at the commune or town level by doctors in outpatient clinics. Cards are to be completed at the time of both admission to and discharge from the hospital. Completed cards are mailed to the HAES. The case notification card contains identifying information about the patient data and place of onset of the condition limited information regarding outcome reporting source and basis for the diagnosis. In the 1956-1980 period a total of 339011 reports of infectious diseases were received at the county level. There has been a significant reduction in the overall incidence/100000 population of notifiable diseases comparing the periods before and after 1965. In the earlier period malaria was the most commonly reported disease with measles in 2nd place. These 2 diseases accounted for 75.6% of all notifications. Consequently emphasis was placed on the control of malaria and measles immunization of children in the county and since 1965 malaria and measles have accounted for only 10.6% of all notifiable diseases whereas dysentery accounted for 46.0% and hepatitis for 26.4%. In 1980 infectious diseases made up 74% of all notifications. No cases have been reported in the past 5 years in Shanghai County. Only 2 cases of polio have occurred in the past 5 years. In 1980 there were 17 cases of encephalitis B reported for an incidence rate of 3 cases/100000 population. Over the 25 year period 31586 cases of viral hepatitis were reported for an annual average incidence rate of 253 cases/100000 population. Major peaks in incidence occurred every 6-7 years. To minimize an expected epidemic in 1979-1980 a series of preventive steps were taken and these are identified. The incidence of bacillary dysentery has not declined significantly over the years.