Epidemiological Characteristics and Environmental Risk Factors of Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome in Hubei Province, China, from 2011 to 2016.
Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is a tick-borne viral disease affecting hundreds of people in China each year. To better understand the epidemiological characteristics and environmental risk factors associated with the incidence of SFTS in Hubei Province, China, we conducted a retrospective epidemiological study and risk assessment of SFTS from 2011 to 2016. Although, the incidence and epidemic areas of SFTS are increasing, the fatality rate has decreased. Elderly farmers are the population most commonly infected with SFTS virus between May and July in the northeast Hubei Province, which seems to be consistent with local agricultural activities and the seasonal abundance of ticks. Spatial scanning showed that regions bordering with Xinyang City, Henan Province accounted for most of the SFTS cases in Hubei Province, and there was a significant association of SFTS incidence with temporal changes in the climate within these clusters. Multivariate modeling analysis identified density of cattle, rain-fed cropland, built-up land, temperature, and relative humidity as independent risk factors for the distribution of SFTS. Future epidemiological and serological studies are warranted to elucidate the dynamics and immunity patterns of local SFTS disease and to optimize interventions.
School of Health Sciences, Wuhan University Wuhan, China.
Tang
T
Wang
Center for Disease Control and Prevention of Aerospace System Beijing, China.
Xin-Lou
XL
Li
Hubei Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention Wuhan, China.
Man
M
Liu
Shiyan Center for Disease Control and Prevention Shiyan, China.
Xiao-Jia
XJ
Song
Yichang Center for Disease Control and Prevention Yichang, China.
Hao
H
Zhang
Center for Disease Control and Prevention of Aerospace System Beijing, China.
Yu-Bin
YB
Wang
Center for Disease Control and Prevention of Aerospace System Beijing, China.
Bao-Pin
BP
Tian
Hubei Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention Wuhan, China.
Xue-Sen
XS
Xing
School of Health Sciences, Wuhan University Wuhan, China.
Shi-Yue
SY
Li
dynamic; epidemiological; human infection; severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome; transmission