title: China's sustained drive to eliminate neglected tropical diseases.
abstract: Non-communicable diseases dominate the public health arena in China, yet neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are still widespread and create a substantial burden. We review the geographical distribution, prevalence, and epidemic characteristics of NTDs identified in China caused by helminths, protozoa, bacteria, and viruses. Lymphatic filariasis was eliminated in 2007, but schistosomiasis still affects up to 5% of local village residents in some endemic counties with around 300 000 people infected. China harbours more than 90% of the world's burden of alveolar echinococcosis and food-borne zoonoses are emerging. In 2010, the overall prevalence of soil-transmitted helminth infections caused by Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura, and hookworm was 11·4%, with 6·8% of these infections caused by A lumbricoides. Corresponding figures for food-borne trematodiasis, echinococcosis, and cysticercosis are more than 5%. Dengue, leishmaniasis, leprosy, rabies, and trachoma exist in many areas and should not be overlooked. Transmission of vector-borne diseases can be interrupted; nevertheless, epidemics occur in remote areas, creating a challenge for surveillance and control. Rigorous surveillance, followed by immediate and integrated response packages tailored to specific social and ecological systems, is essential for progress towards the elimination of NTDs in China.
authors.affiliation: Jiangsu Institute of Parasitic Diseases and Key Laboratory on Control Technology for Parasitic Diseases, Ministry of Health, Wuxi, China.
authors.forename: Guo-Jing
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Jiangsu Institute of Parasitic Diseases and Key Laboratory on Control Technology for Parasitic Diseases, Ministry of Health, Wuxi, China.
authors.forename: Lu
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Jiangsu Institute of Parasitic Diseases and Key Laboratory on Control Technology for Parasitic Diseases, Ministry of Health, Wuxi, China.
authors.forename: Hong-Ru
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: The Jockey Club School of Public Health and Primary Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China.
authors.forename: Sian M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Griffiths
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland; University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Marcel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tanner
authors.affiliation: Ingerod, Brastad, Sweden.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bergquist
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland; University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Jürg
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Utzinger
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shanghai, China; Key Laboratory on Biology of Parasite and Vector, Ministry of Health, WHO Collaborating Center for Malaria, Schistosomiasis and Filariasis, Shanghai, China. Electronic address: ipdzhouxn@sh163.net.
authors.forename: Xiao-Nong
authors.initials: XN
authors.lastname: Zhou
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002681:China; D004443:Echinococcosis / Q000517:prevention & control; D006373:Helminthiasis / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D007918:Leprosy / Q000150:complications; D058069:Neglected Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012552:Schistosomiasis / Q000517:prevention & control; D012987:Soil / Q000469:parasitology; D014201:Trematode Infections / Q000517:prevention & control; D014330:Tropical Medicine; D015047:Zoonoses / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D012987:Soil