[The epidemic characteristics and preventive measures of hemorrhagic fever with syndromes in China].
OBJECTIVE
To summarize and analyze the epidemic situation of hantaviruses including geographic distribution, types and prevalent intensity of epidemic areas of hantavirus for the last 30 years in China, and to discuss relative preventive measures.


METHODS
Collecting and analyzing the data of hantaviruses epidemics in China.


RESULTS
The annual number of cases of hantavirus disease rapidly increased from 3295 in 1970 to 115,804 in 1986 then sustained between 40,000 and 60,000 cases annually in the 1990's, and then decreased thereafter. The epidemic areas existed in all provinces except Qinhai and Xinjiang and there were the hospitalized cases of hantavirus disease reported in other provinces. In recent years, the prevalence of hantavirus infection had increased in some cities, and the seasonal distribution of the cases changed as well.


CONCLUSIONS
Data suggested that the new epidemic characteristics of hantaviruses had emerged in China suggesting that it was necessary to strengthen surveillance programs and to take comprehensive preventive measures for the control and prevention of hantaviruses in China.
Zhang
Yong-Zhen
YZ
Institute for Infectious Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 102206, China.
Xiao
Dong-Lou
DL
Wang
Yu
Y
Wang
Hong-Xia
HX
Sun
Li
L
Tao
Xiao-Xia
XX
Qu
Yong-Gang
YG
D000818:Animals; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D004197:Disease Reservoirs; D005260:Female; D018063:Hantaan virus / Q000276:immunology; D006480:Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D011159:Population Surveillance; D015995:Prevalence; D051381:Rats; D012375:Rodent Control; D014611:Vaccination; D015164:Vaccines, Inactivated / Q000276:immunology
D015164:Vaccines, Inactivated