title: Clusters of spatial, temporal, and space-time distribution of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome in Liaoning Province, Northeastern China.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) is a rodent-borne disease caused by Hantavirus, with characteristics of fever, hemorrhage, kidney damage, and hypotension. HFRS is recognized as a notifiable public health problem in China, and Liaoning Province is one of the most seriously affected areas with the most cases in China. It is necessary to investigate the spatial, temporal, and space-time distribution of confirmed cases of HFRS in Liaoning Province, China for future research into risk factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cartogram map was constructed; spatial autocorrelation analysis and spatial, temporal, and space-time cluster analysis were conducted in Liaoning Province, China over the period 1988-2001.
  
  
  RESULTS
  When the number of permutation test was set to 999, Moran's I was 0.3854, and was significant at significance level of 0.001. Spatial cluster analysis identified one most likely cluster and four secondary likely clusters. Temporal cluster analysis identified 1998-2001 as the most likely cluster. Space-time cluster analysis identified one most likely cluster and two secondary likely clusters.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Spatial, temporal, and space-time scan statistics may be useful in supervising the occurrence of HFRS in Liaoning Province, China. The result of this study can not only assist health departments to develop a better prevention strategy but also potentially increase the public health intervention's effectiveness.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang, PR China.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Junqiao
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Peng
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Guan
authors.forename: Yingwei
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Baosen
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zhou
mesh_terms: D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D005843:Geography; D006476:Orthohantavirus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006480:Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors