[The current status of schistosomiasis epidemics in China].
OBJECTIVE
To analyze the change of tendency on schistosomiasis epidemics in China in the last 5 years.


METHODS
Data on schistosomiasis epidemics in the history and particularly in the last 5 years were collected. Tendency and the re-emerging status after 1998 were analyzed.


RESULTS
Data in 2003 showed that in 42%, 40% and 53% of the provinces, counties and townships with epidemics, the transmission of the disease has been interrupted or controlled. The number of estimated patients of schistosomiasis and areas with snails were also reduced by 92.74% and 73.56%, in 2003. The annual estimated number of chronic cases was around 800 000 and 31 321.5 hectare of snail infested areas were newly identified in recent 5 years. Among 20 national villages under longitudinal surveillance, 30%, 70% and 35% of the villages were presented a tendency of increase in the rates of human infection, bovine infection and Oncomelania snails infection, respectively. A total of 38 counties from 7 provinces have re-emerged in schistosomiasis transmission after those counties having reached criteria of transmission under control or interrupted. In 6 non-endemic counties, snails were presented, and 16 marshlands in Xan river were found with appearance of acute cases of schistosomiasis. More snail infested areas were found in Shanghai, Zhejiang, and Fujian. Both snail infested areas and newly infected cases were occurred in urban areas along the Yangtze River.


CONCLUSIONS
The tendency of increase was presented in focal areas along the Yangtze River, due to changes of environmental, ecological, societal and economic status, as well as on the forces of control.
National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shanghai 200025, China.
Xiao-nong
XN
Zhou
Tian-ping
TP
Wang
Li-ying
LY
Wang
Jia-gang
JG
Guo
Qing
Q
Yu
Jing
J
Xu
Ru-bo
RB
Wang
Zhao
Z
Chen
Tie-wu
TW
Jia
D000818:Animals; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D004197:Disease Reservoirs; D006801:Humans; D011223:Praziquantel / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015995:Prevalence; D012554:Schistosomiasis japonica / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012908:Snails / Q000469:parasitology*
D011223:Praziquantel