Abstract
BackgroundZhejiang Province has the fifth-highest incidence of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) in China. While the top four provinces are all located in northern and central China, only Zhejiang Province is located in the Yangtze River Delta region of southeast China. This study was undertaken to identify the epidemiological characteristics of SFTS in Zhejiang from 2011 to 2018.MethodsThe epidemic data from SFTS cases in Zhejiang Province from January 2011 to December 2018 were obtained from the China Information Network System of Disease Prevention and Control. Meteorological data were collected from the China Meteorological Data Sharing Service System. A multivariate time series model was used to analyze the heterogeneity of spatial-temporal transmission of the disease. Random forest analysis was performed to detect the importance of meteorological factors and the dose-response association of the incidence of SFTS with these factors.ResultsIn total, 412 SFTS cases (49 fatal) were reported from January 2011 to December 2018 in Zhejiang Province, China. The number of SFTS cases and the number of affected counties increased year by year. The case fatality rate in Zhejiang Province was 11.89%, which was the highest in China. Elderly patients and farmers were the most affected. The total effect values of the autoregressive component, spatiotemporal component and endemic component of the model in all ranges were 0.4580, 0.0377 and 0.0137, respectively. There was obvious heterogeneity across counties for the mean values of the spatiotemporal component and the autoregressive component. The autoregressive component was obviously the main factor driving the occurrence of SFTS, followed by the spatiotemporal component. The importance scores of the monthly mean pressure, mean temperature, mean relative humidity, mean two-minute wind speed, duration of sunshine and precipitation were 10.64, 8.34, 8.16, 6.37, 5.35 and 2.81, respectively. The relationship between these factors and the incidence of SFTS is complicated and nonlinear. A suitable range of meteorological factors for this disease was also detected.ConclusionsThe autoregressive and spatiotemporal components played an important role in driving the transmission of SFTS. Targeted preventive efforts should be made in different areas based on the main component contributing to the epidemic. For most areas, early measures several months ahead of the suitable season for the occurrence of SFTS should be implemented. The level of reporting and diagnosis of this disease should be further improved.
Highlights
The funders had no role in Zhejiang Province has the fifth-highest incidence of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) in China
The autoregressive and spatiotemporal components played an important role in driving the transmission of Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS)
Targeted preventive efforts should be made in different areas based on the main component contributing to the epidemic
Summary
Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is an emerging hemorrhagic fever caused by the severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV), which is classified in the order Bunyavirales, family Phenuiviridae, and genus Phlebovirus[1,2,3]. SFTS was first confirmed among rural areas in China in 2009 and subsequently reported in North Korea in 2009, South Korea in 2012 and Japan in 2013 [4,5,6,7]. A cluster of cases of SFTS in 1996 was uncovered and reported in a new study. It has been suggested that the SFTSV has been circulating in China for more than 10 years prior to 2009[2]. The main clinical symptoms of SFTS include fever, thrombocytopenia, leukocytopenia, gastrointestinal symptoms, neurological symptoms and bleeding tendency, as well as less specific clinical manifestations [9,10]. Zhejiang Province has the fifth-highest incidence of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) in China. This study was undertaken to identify the epidemiological characteristics of SFTS in Zhejiang from 2011 to 2018
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
