Objective  To analyze the epidemic characteristics of hand-foot-mouth disease (HFMD) and the effect of enterovirus A71 (EV-A71) vaccine vaccination in Chenzhou city from 2013 to 2018 and to provide evidences for the control of HFMD.

  Methods  We collected surveillance data on HFMD incidence, detection of pathogens including EV-A71, coxsackievirus A16 (CV-A16) and other human enterovirus (HEV), and vaccination of EV71 vaccine in Chenzhou city from 2013 to 2018.The data on Detection of EV-A71, and other HEV pathogens were detected with Real-time fluorescence quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (real time RT-PCR) was adopted in detections of nucleic acid of EV-A71, CV-A16 and other HEV in sampled specimens. Chi-square test was used in statistical analysis.

  Results  During the period in the city, totally 55 026 HFMD cases (including 91 severe cases and 12 deaths) were reported and the reported average annual incidence rate was 195.5/100 000 (ranging from 154.5 to 256.9 per 100 000). Obvious seasonality and the two epidemic peaks from May to June and from September to November in a year were observed in HFMD incidences. Of the reported cases, 86.8% were children under 3 years old and the male to female ratio of the reported cases was 1.7 : 1. The reported HFHD incidence rate varied among the 11 counties/districts in the city. The distribution of detected pathogenic viruses differed by time and disease severity of patients. From 2016 to 2018, a total of 131 075 children were inoculated with EV71 vaccine. Significantly lower incidence rate of severe HFMD was observed after the implementation of EV71 vaccine vaccination.

  Conclusion   Hand-foot-mouth disease caused by various enteroviruses is still prevalent and in Chenzhou city; the children under 3 years old is the key population in the control of the disease; EV71 vaccine vaccination could reduce the incidence of severe hand-foot-mouth disease.