Epidemiological and pathogenic characteristics of hand, foot, and mouth disease in Zhejiang province, 2008-2009

ObjectiveTo analyze epidemiological characteristics of hand,foot and mouth disease(HFMD),and to explore feasible prevention and control measures.MethodsThe information on severe and dead HFMD cases from 2008-2009 in Zhejiang province were collected from Chinese Disease Surveillance System and the data were analyzed with descriptive epidemiological methods.ResultsThere were 3 peaks for the epidemics of HFMD in 2009 and 2 peaks in 2008.HEV71 prevailed in the first half year,then,principal pathogen converted to CoxA16 in the second half year in 2009. HEV71 strains belonged to C4a sub-genotype,and there was no significant difference in the dominant strains between 2008 and 2009.The Reported cases distributed in 90% of the towns with the reported morbidity of 72.6/100 000(36 726 cases) and case mortality rate of 1.9/10 000(7 cases)in 2008,a morbidicy of 135.3/10 000(69 285 cases),and a case mortality of 1.2/10 000(8 cases)in 2009.The ratio of severe FHMD cases was increased with the prevalent proportion of HEV71 strains(r=0.709,P=0.000).ConclusionThere was a continuous prevalence of HFMD in Zhejiang province in 2008-2009 with a case mortality rate positively correlating with the prevalent proportion of HEV71.