Analysis of epidemic cerebrospinal meningitis in Qinghai province during 2001 through 2007

Objective To figure out epidemiologic characteristics of epidemic cerebrospinal meningitis (ECM) in Qinghai province from 2001-2007 for improving prevention and controlling work of ECM.Methods Data of disease and population were analyzed by descriptive epidemiological methods.Results From 2001 to 2007,380 cases of ECM were reported,including 18 deaths with the annual incidence of 1.01/100000 and case fatality of 4.74%.The annual mortality was 0.048/100000.The area with the highest incidence was rural,and the second was city and the third was pasture.Most of cases occurred from February to April (64.21%).The three age groups with higher incidence were 5-9 years (2.24/100000),0-4 years (1.76/100000),10-14 years (1.00/100000).Most of the patients were students (59.11%).Conclusion ECM in Qinghai province was highly sporadic with obvious seasonal variation.Majority of the cases were under age of 15 years.The occurrence of Nm A was the main prevalence strain.