Abstract
Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is an emerging infectious disease first discovered in northeast and central China in 2009, and SFTS cases increased year by year in China. This study aimed to identify the spatial and temporal clusters of SFTS in Zhejiang Province, China. We analyzed the surveillance data of SFTS in Zhejiang Province during 2011 - 2015. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the general characteristics and overall trend of SFTS. Circular statistic method was utilized to identify the seasonality. Space-time scan analysis was performed to explore the high risk spatio-temporal clusters of SFTS cases at county level. A total of 194 confirmed SFTS cases were reported in Zhejiang Province during 2011 - 2015. We found a significant increase in overall time trend since 2011. The seasonality was statistically significant (P < 0.001), with a mean date (95% CI) of 21st June (12th ~ 30th in June). Totally 21 (23%) counties reported the occurrence of SFTS, which gradually spread throughout Zhejiang. Three spatio-temporal clusters were detected, with one principle cluster (Daishan County, RR 234.48, June 2013 - November 2015) and two secondary clusters (6 counties, RR 30.73, April - October in 2015; Anji County, RR 373.26, May 2014). Our results suggested that SFTS has increased and spatially expanded over the past years, with a remarkable seasonality. Three spatio-temporal clusters were identified. These findings are important for the improvement of SFTS surveillance and control strategies.
Highlights
Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is an emerging infectious disease first discovered in northeast and central China in 2009, and SFTS cases increased year by year in China
Most cases occurred in individuals aged 40~80 years (91.57%), and the male-to-female ratio was 0.88. 98.00% of SFTS cases were reported from April to October with a peak in May to July
The results of our study suggested that SFTS cases displayed a consistent marked seasonality from 2011 to 2015, with most cases reported during May - August
Summary
Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is an emerging infectious disease first discovered in northeast and central China in 2009, and SFTS cases increased year by year in China. This study aimed to identify the spatial and temporal clusters of SFTS in Zhejiang Province, China. Results: A total of 194 confirmed SFTS cases were reported in Zhejiang Province during 2011 - 2015. Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is an emerging infectious disease first discovered in northeast and central China in 2009 [1], and SFTS virus (SFTSV), a Phlebovirus in the family of Bunyaviridae, has been identified as the causative agent [2]. Surveillance data [4] showed that incidence of SFTS is ascending in China, and a total of 5360 laboratory-confirmed SFTS cases have been reported until December 2016. The disease spread among several countries worldwide [5,6,7] with a case-fatality rate of 10 ~ 15% and the potential human-to-human transmission [8,9]
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